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Certain patients in special circumstances attend as out-patients at the Council's
hospitals, but the number is kept as low as possible.
It is a common experience in the management of wards for V.D. patients that
grave disciplinary problems often arise, a fact which is in no way surprising when
a number of able-bodied young persons are congregated in a limited space without
adequate employment. There is little scope for ordinary domestic work under
hospital conditions, and many of the women patients have no knowledge of handicrafts,
no money to buy material, and no incentive to start. As the treatment in
many cases extends over several months and occasionally for a year or more, bad
habits of idleness are naturally formed under such conditions, and the mental
stagnation does nothing towards that strengthening of character which should be
looked upon as a necessary part of treatment.
Occupation
classes.
Prolonged efforts to find voluntary workers who would undertake the responsibility
of running classes in V.D. wards proved fruitless, and in April, 1934,
the education officer, who was already conducting similar work in voluntary V.D.
hostels, was asked to supply trained instructresses from the evening institutes. A
weekly class in needlework was arranged at the Bethnal Green unit, and two similar
classes per week at Lambeth and St. Stephen's hospitals. A short cultural class
in English was also organised in each ward. As most of the women, including those
whom it was most desired to keep busy, were penniless, it was found necessary to
provide material free for those who could not afford even the cost price and to allow
the women to keep the finished article.
From the start the experiment has been a gratifying success. The industry
of the girls is as remarkable as their former idleness. They are eager to learn and
have produced admirable garments for themselves and their babies.
The class in English directs its attention to suitable light literature and current
affairs, and gives a wider range to the patients' thoughts and conversation. There
is unanimous testimony that the discipline of the wards has greatly improved, and
that the women, with the exception of a small intractable minority, co-operate
well in these efforts made to help them.
Treatment of enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
During 1934, as in former years, it was found necessary to supplement the
existing arrangements for the treatment of enlarged tonsils and adenoids in connection
with the school medical service, by arranging for some of this work to be
undertaken at the following general hospitals for the periods stated :—
Mile End hospital 1st January to 31st December, 1934.
St. Charles' hospital 1st May to 31st July, 1934.
Artificial pneumothorax refills.
It has been the practice at certain of the general hospitals to administer artificial
pneumothorax refills, at the request of the tuberculosis officers of the Metropolitan
Borough Councils, to patients suffering from tuberculosis, who have been
under the care of the tuberculosis officers at the local dispensaries. Similar arrangements
were in existence between certain of the Borough Councils and voluntary
hospitals, and in such cases a charge of 10s. 6d. was usually made for each attendance.
The Council decided to make a similar charge, except in cases where the refill was
administered by the tuberculosis officer, in which case it was decided that a fee of
5s. only, to cover establishment charges, should be made.
Facilities for the administration of artificial pneumothorax refills and also the
necessary X-ray screening, are available at 24 of the general hospitals and the
Borough Councils were invited to take advantage of these facilities as from 1st
July, 1934.
Oxygen therapeutic service.
Dr. E. P. Poulton, who is one of the physicians to Guy's hospital, and also a
member of the Council's staff of consulting physicians, has devoted a considerable
amount of time for upwards of ten years to research with a view to ascertaining