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Treatment of Tuberculosis in Sanatoria and Hospitals.
All cases recommended for institutional treatment are dealt with by the London
County Council. Those admitted to sanatoria are usually early cases, in which the disease has
not made much progress. Advanced cases, the most dangerous as regards infection, are
usually referred to Poor Law institutions. Many patients decline to enter the latter, and so
remain at home, a danger to others.
During the year 285 cases were recommended for Institutional treatment, and 261 of
these were admitted.
Special Methods of Diagnosis and Treatmknt.
(a) X-ray examination.—All cases requiring this are referred to University College
Hospital. There were 46 such cases in 1923.
(b) Finsen light treatment for lupus.—These cases are dealt with at the London
Hospital. Payment has been made for the treatment of 4 cases, who made
84 attendances during the year.
(c) Pneumothorax treatment.— This is carried out at Brompton Hospital, 2 cases being
so dealt with during 1923.
(d) Tuberculosis dental clinic.—A special clinic for tuberculous persons is held at
39, Oakley Square; the dental surgeon is Mr. Southcomb May, l.d.s. Cases
needing treatment are referred to the dentist by the tuberculosis officer.
Tuberculosis Care Committee.
The social and economic factors in the tuberculosis problem are of so great importance
that it has been found necessary to make special provision for dealing with the non-medical
aspects of the question.
In May, 1922, the Ministry of Health issued a Circular (No. 308), suggesting to
Borough Councils that the time was opportune for the organisation of Care Committees as
part of the machinery for dispensary schemes. Previously, in April, 1915, a similar
suggestion had been made; but, for various reasons, this side of the work had not been
developed, although an Interim Care Committee, appointed by the London County Council,
which held its first meeting on 13th April, 1916, had been at work in the Borough. Prior to
1916, an effective scheme of co-operation between the Public Health Department and the
various charitable, religious, and social agencies of the Borough, as assembled by the Public
Welfare Association (now the Council of Social Service), was in existence in St. Pancras.
After full consideration of the Ministry's Circular, the Borough Council, on the
18th October, 1922, passed the following resolutions:—
(a) "That the Borough Council do form a Tuberculosis Care Committee for St. Pancras,
to be constituted as a Sub-Committee of the Public Health Committee, as follows:—
Ten members of the Borough Council, one representative of the St. Pancras
Guardians of the Poor, the Medical Officer of Health, the Tuberculosis Officer, the
senior lady sanitary inspector, one representative each of the departments of the
London County Council dealing with School Care Committees and the Schools
Medical Service; one representative each of the three following committees—
Juvenile Advisory Committee of the Employment Exchange (Ministry of Labour),
War Pensions Committee, and London Insurance Committee; and one representative
each of the following ten St. Pancras organisations—Employers, Trade Unions,
Friendly Societies, Federation of Maternity and Child Welfare Centres, Medical
Practitioners, Invalid Children's Aid Society, Charity Organisation Society, Council
of Social Service, Women's Co-operative Guild, British Bed Cross Society.