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109
benefited greatly by their stay. In all 98 women were admitted. Following their
departure, child convalescents were again admitted in November. A number of
school holiday children were received during the summer as in the previous year.
It has now been decided to transfer the children suffering from surgical tuberculosis
to Heatherwood hospital, Ascot, as soon as that hospital has been enlarged,
and to transform Princess Mary's hospital for children into a convalescent hospital
for women.
The medical superintendent (Dr. Johnstone) has stated that, of the 227 children
in the surgical tuberculosis unit who were discharged from the hospital during the
year, 180 were discharged with the disease arrested, in 12 cases the diagnosis was
not confirmed, 25 were transferred to fever hospitals and 10 to other special hospitals.
The results of treatment of cases of surgical tuberculosis have been uniformly
satisfactory. Again there were long spells of fine sunny weather, of which full
advantage was taken by exposing the patients on the sun verandahs. There is an
increasing number of cases being admitted with a diagnosis of tuberculosis which
cannot be confirmed after observation and investigation. The explanation, in the
opinion of the medical superintendent, lies in the fact that a steadily increasing
number of cases are being admitted very early after the incidence of trouble, which
after a period of time proves to be non-tuberculous. This is matter for congratulation
and is as it should be. Coupled with this, an increasing number of cases
are sent for observation, proving that the advantages of early reporting are being
realised.
The medical superintendent reports that the proportionately large percentage
of cases developing genito-urinary disease in 1932 and 1933 has not been maintained.
Only one case was transferred to the genito-urinary clinic at Queen Mary's hospital
during the year. At one time it was mooted that one of the contributory causes
of this complication was exposure of the patient to sun or artificial light treatment.
Bearing in mind the two very fine summers of 1933 and 1934, during which the
patients' total exposure to radiant energy, natural and artificial, was very high,
Dr. Johnstone has come to the conclusion that it plays no part. He is convinced
that the main factors are immobilization and posture employed during treatment
of active disease. Account must be taken of the time factor and the seat of the
active bone lesion. However, investigation is proceeding with regard to cases under
treatment.
The following table shews the number of visits paid by patients to the X-ray
department during the last four years :—
1931. 1932. 1933. 1934.
462 708 896 797
During the year 1,047 areas were skiagraphed, involving the use of 1993 films,
and 990 reduced prints were made.
The work done in the plaster room is shewn by the following figures, viz.,
plasters applied 291, casts taken 77, bandages used 3,757, celluloid splints completed
68, plasters removed 226, plasters repaired 91.
In the dental department there were 1,019 examinations, 137 fillings and 273
extractions.
In the artificial light department 534 general and 2,272 local treatments were
given. The fall in the number of general treatments given is partly due to the
decline of suitable cases, but in the main to the restricted facilities which the
existing apparatus provides. The approaching change in the use of the hospital
precludes the expenditure which would be involved by the provision of improved
facilities for this form of treatment.
In the splint workshop 442 pieces of new apparatus were made and 933 repairs
effected during the year. While there was a decided increase in splint and boot
repairs over those carried out in 1933, due to the extended use of Thomas' abduction
frames with their leather attachments, combined with increased surgical boot wear
and tear, there was a reduction of almost one-third in the number of new splints
made owing to the decline in the number of cases of surgical tuberculosis suffering
from bone and ioint disease.
H