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4934 adults and 917 children were sent away during the year.
The total number treated during the year 1925 was 6,557 adults and 1,661 as
compared with 6,198 adults and 1,622 children in 1924. In addition, 270 children
had the advantage of convalescence through the Invalid Children's Aid Association
with the financial assistance of the Council.
The scheme of co-operation between the Council and the Association, under
which, in return for a grant, the Association provides convalescent treatment for
children, and also assists in the provision of clothing, outfits and surgical appliances
for children who had received treatment under the tuberculosis scheme, was continued
during 1925. The sum paid to the Association during 1925 was £2,000.
During 1925 the Association received 432 applications for assistance, and 270
children were sent away with the assistance of the Council's grant. 20 applications
were for boots and clothing, and 16 cases were found to be ineligible. 63 children
were supplied with surgical instruments with the help of the Council's grant-in-aid.
In addition to these, 13 children were sent away without help from the Council's
grant-in-aid, as the parents were able to pay the full cost of treatment.
Since 1920 the Council has arranged with the Association for the children
attending the Council's schools for tuberculous children to go away to the seaside
for a fortnight's holiday during the summer. In 1925, children to the number of
221 were sent to a convalescent home at St. Leonards-on-Sea, the Council making a
grant of £480 towards the cost.
Open-air
schools.
In addition to the provision for treatment of tuberculous children in residential
institutions, the Council continued the use of five open-air schools specifically for
children notified under the Tuberculosis Regulations, 1912, as suffering from
tuberculosis of the lungs or of glands with no open wounds.
The children are admitted on the certificate of the medical officer of the Council,
and preference is given to those returning home after treatment in a sanatorium.
The five schools—Camberwell, Elizabethan, Kensal House, Springwell House, and
Stormont House—have, together, accommodation for 365 children.
During 1925 there were 157 children admitted to the schools and 153 discharged.
Of the latter, 42 were fit for elementary school, 74 were fit for work, 17 were transferred
to hospital or sanatorium, 8 moved away, and 11 were discharged for other
reasons. One child died from tubercular meningitis.
The Medical Officer of the Elizabethan School mentions that three children
suffering from tuberculous glands of the neck have received artificial sunlight treatment
at the clinics at Humanity House, Westminster, and that in each case considerable
benefit was derived from the treatment. A number of children from the
Stormont House School also received light treatment at Victoria Park Hospital,
and the medical officer of the school reports that a few of these appear to have
benefited.
The Medical Officer of Springwell House School refers to the small amount of
infectious disease during the year. It is worthy of note that the records of the
school show that there has not been a case of measles since 1919.
Venereal diseases.
The number of new cases of venereal disease dealt with by the hospitals under
the London and Home Counties Scheme during 1925 was 17,502, of which 5,902
were syphilis, 11,321 gonorrhæ, and 279 soft chancre. Comparing these figures
with those of the previous year it will be observed that the total number of new
cases dealt with is 779 less than in 1924.