View report page

have referred to them, either for further investigation or for treatment.
A new financial agreement has been made between the
Borough Councils and the Hospital, whereby a per capita payment is
made for X-Rays. This is desirable in view of the large increase in
the number of films required, and the greater time devoted by the
Staff of the Radiological Department to Dispensary patients. Dr.
Loughborough has reported on 338 cases. Of these, 280 were found
to have no demonstrable tuberculous focus, 21 were cases in whom
X-Ray was needed to assess progress rather than for purposes of
diagnosis, and 37 were shown to have an active lesion in the lungs
or elsewhere. It is widely recognised now that without adequate
X-Ray control the work of a Tuberculosis Dispensary cannot be
effective, nor can it command the confidence of local practitioners
or the public, and my debt to Dr. Loughborough for his skilled help is
one that I gratefully acknowledge.
Miss E. M. Russell, in addition to carrying out most ably her
duties as Secretary-Dispenser, has given me invaluable assistance in
other routine work. She has exercised much tact and discretion in
dealing with patients, some of whom by reason of the temperamental
eccentricities well known to occur among the tuberculous, require
particularly careful handling. Many of those attending have
expressed their gratitude for her kindly sympathy, a fact which I
feel should be placed on record, since it does much to render the
Department appreciated in the locality.
I have also to thank Mr. Frank Jennings, the Hospital Secretary
and House Governor, and his staff, for their friendly collaboration;
and the Matron for her care and trouble in selecting nurses whose
assistance at the clinics has been uniformly successful.
The Dispensary is greatly indebted to the Chief Administrative
Officers, Dr. G. H. Dart, Medical Officer of Health for Hackney, and
Dr. F. D. Ross-Keyt, Medical Officer of Health for Stoke Newington,
for kindly furthering the interests of the Department in many
directions.
In conclusion, I wish to express my gratitude to the Tuberculosis
Dispensary Committee, and to the representatives of Hackney and
Stoke Newington, for their assistance and support during the year
I am, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
F. W. Hamilton,
Clinical Tuberculosis Officer.
73