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134
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
I am still of opinion that, especially in the case of children
certain patients should have open-air treatment other than at home,
and it is to be hoped that shortly this will be available.
The question of prevention has again occupied a prominent place
in the work of the Dispensaries during the year. The examination
of contacts, which is dealt with in the report of the Tuberculosis
Officer, shows that 421 contacts were examined, and of these 28 or
about 6.65 per cent. were found to be Tuberculous.
I am also able to report that the Dispensaries have been utilised
to a very large extent by the medical profession no fewer than 170
cases having been sent by their private medical attendants.
With regard to cases of Tuberculosis among insured persons,
of 363 cases notified 88 have been, and 47 are at present in
sanatoria.
15 of these were in sanatoria for less than one month, 15 from
one to two months, 30 from two to three months, 15 from three to
four months, three from four to five months, seven from five to six
months, and three for six months and over.
With regard to their condition after return, 40 were improved
and able to work, while 23 were stated to have improved, but unable
to work, 11 were worse, and 14 died, four of these at home and 10 in
sanatoria.
After return from sanatoria 54 patients had domiciliary treatment,
10 had dispensary treatment, three were treated in the
Infirmary, two were treated in hospitals, while nine removed and
the form of treatment could not be ascertained.
During the year disinfection was carried out at 399 premises
either after the death or removal of the patient, compared with
420 in 1913, 426 in 1912, 313 in 1911, 265 in 1910, 255 in 1909, and
184 in 1908. 84 of the premises disinfected were in Clapham, 26 in
Putney 53 in Streatham, 53 in Tooting, and 140 in Wandsworth.