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The Committee is grateful for the continued co-operation and assistance of the
Charity Organisation Society, Invalid Children's Aid Association, United Services Fund,
and other societies. The kindly work done by Mr. Wakeford and some members of the
local branch of "Toe H" in visiting patients in Highgate Hospital still continues, and
many patients are cheered by entertainments arranged on their behalf.
Queen Mary's Needlework Guild sent a parcel of clothing at Christmas which was
most welcome, and the Hon. Secretary has also to thank the St. Pancras Rotarians for
their kind gift of £1 towards her clothing cupboard. Her working party has met
regularly throughout the year and many articles of clothing have been contributed.
During the year 63 patients have been helped with gifts of clothing.
H. M. Whelon."
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY.
Nine consultations are held in each week—two in the morning, five in the afternoon,
and two in the evening.
During the year the work was carried out at 39, Oakley Square, part of the premises
of the St. Pancras General Dispensary. Early in February, 1932, the Tuberculosis Dispensary
was transferred to new premises at Barnes House, Camden Road.
Artificial Light Treatment.
Provision as part of Tuberculosis Dispensary Service.
The experimental arrangements which had been made by the London County Council
for the provision of the above-mentioned form of treatment as part of the Tuberculosis
Dispensary Service at certain approved hospitals and other centres in London expired on March
31st, 1929.
It was decided that the arrangements should not be renewed, but the County Council
state that they have decided to continue the existing arrangements for the treatment of lupus
at the London Hospital on the basis of 5s. an attendance for the treatment by Finsen lamp,
and 1s. an attendance for general ultra violet light treatment; and at the St. Thomas's
Hospital on the basis of payment of 1s. an attendance for treatment by Kromeyer lamp, and
to extend these arrangements to include any hospital providing the requisite facilities and
approved for the purpose. Particulars of such hospitals will be communicated in due course.
Report on the Work carried out at the Tuberculosis Dispensary.
The following report on the work of the Dispensary has been furnished by the
Tuberculosis Officer, Dr. Back:—
" The number of new cases dealt with at the Dispensary during 1931 was approximately
the same as it was in 1930, but the total number on the dispensary register fell from 851 to
809. This decrease is due mainly to patients transferring to other areas, or, for other reasons,
failing to attend the dispensary, the number included in this category being 223 as compared
with 185 in the previous year.
Altogether 276 recommendations for institutional treatment were made. Only five of
these were subsequently withdrawn by patients, and of the 56 cases not accepted by the
London County Council under their tuberculosis scheme, 33 were given sanatorium treatment
under the scheme for public assistance. The total number of patients who received sanatorium
treatment was therefore 248, or 17 more than the number given similar treatment in 1930.
The proportion of contacts who attend for examination is still not more than 16 per cent.
The number of attendances for artificial pneumothorax refills shows a reduction from
130 to 112. This figure fluctuates considerably from year to year, because the number of
patients treated is small compared with the number of times each patient may attend for
treatment. The average annual attendance during the last five years is 101.