London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of London 1929

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]

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Patients Admitted to the Hospital for Diagnosis.—The wards of the Hospital are available
for the reception of cases presenting difficulties of diagnosis, which can only be overcome
by observation as In-patients. Nine resident and 24 non-resident patients were admitted
for this purpose.

Examination of Sputum.—The following is a summary:—

City Residents.Non-Residents.Total.
Positive.83442
Negative4299141

Residential Treatment.—The number of patients for whom residential treatment was
arranged was 75. Admitted to Poor Law Other St. Colvmbas Hosp.
L.C.C. Institutions. Institutions. Institutions. Corpn. Expense. Total.
Patients resident in the City 14 — 9 — 23
Patients non-resident 38 9 5 — 52
52 9 14 — 75
Persons neither resident nor working in the City are usually transferred immediately
to their own Tuberculosis Officer, and subsequent arrangements are made by him. This
system has worked satisfactorily.
Persons Treated and Supervised at the Dispensary.—(i.) Patients resident in the City.
All persons suffering from Tuberculosis who are resident in the City may be supervised and
treated at the Dispensary. The total number of cases so treated was 64.
In addition, a large number of contacts are kept under observation.
(ii.) Patients non-resident in the City.
(a) Who work in the City.
On diagnosis these patients are informed that they can be treated and advised at the
Dispensary or transferred to the Tuberculosis Officer of their own Borough. The majority
decide to remain patients at the Dispensary.
(b) Who do not work in the City.
On diagnosis, these patients are usually transferred to the Tuberculosis Officer of
their own Borough. The total number of cases so transferred was 136.
Total Attendances:— Total.
Residents 322
Non-Residents 1,268
1,590
The total attendances for 1929 show an increase of 54 over those for 1928.
In view of the fact that the cases in the last stages of the disease are extremely infectious,
especially in crowded houses, the Corporation have made arrangements to pay for the maintenance
of selected City cases at St. Columba's Hospital, Swiss Cottage. These facilities
were not utilised in 1929.
Artificial Pneumothorax.—Artificial pneumothorax treatment has been used again
during the year. Artificial pneumothorax was induced in three cases and 225 Refills done
in connection with the Dispensary.
The Tuberculosis Nurse.'—As an adjunct to the work at the Tuberculosis Clinic, the
outside work of the Tuberculosis Nurse has been continued on the same lines as former years.
Sixty-two homes have been visited, and 228 visits made in connection with after-care and
following up. In addition to the above, patients, some of whom were in an advanced stage
of the disease, have been nursed in their own homes. For this purpose 30 visits were made.
General.—The following information is supplied in accordance with the requirements
of the Ministry of Health:—
(i.) The Tuberculosis Dispensary is at St. Bartholomew's Hospital; the Tuberculosis
Officer is Dr. F. H. Young, O.B.E.; one Tuberculosis Nurse is engaged in the work. Treatment
in residential institutions is provided for insured "and uninsured persons by the London
County Council.
(ii.) Patients are referred to the Tuberculosis Dispensary from hospitals, school clinics
and other institutions, with all of which there is close co-operation.
The services of the Staff and all the resources of St. Bartholomew's Hospital are available
for diagnosis and treatment. Many patients are referred to departments of the Hospital
for these purposes.
(iii.) The Tuberculosis Officer is in constant consultation and communication with
general practitioners, so that there is close co-operation between them and the Dispensary.
He reminds them when reports are due on insured patients under domiciliary treatment
and provides them with copies of the form with names and addresses inserted.