Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Acton]
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Sanatorium. In 1907 the number of beds was reduced to two.
During the earlier years the result of treatment was very
disappointing.
In 1905 five cases were admitted. At the end of 1909
two of these were dead, two had left the district and one was
still able to work. The last case was a fairly early one, and
was fortunate in finding an outdoor occupation on his
discharge.
In 1906 ten cases were admitted. Of these five are dead,
two have left the district, one cannot be traced and two are
one had left the district, one has relapsed and three are doing
well.
In 1908 six were admitted. One is dead, the other five
show no signs of relapse.
In 1909 nine were admitted. Two made no improvement
and one is dead.
In almost all the cases the immediate results were
gratifying, and when early and suitable cases can be secured
a considerable percentage may be returned to the ranks of
active workers and remain in those ranks for several years.
The percentage gets smaller as the interval since their
discharge increases.
To procure lasting effect earlier cases must be treated,
and the patient must be cared for on discharge so that he can
gradually return to work. But these are really only two
phases of one question. If treatment could be carried out in
the earliest stages of the disease, after-care would probably be
unnecessary.
More than one-half of the human race has tubercle and
goes on living without knowing it. At least 50 per cent. of
people dying from other diseases present evidences of healed
tubercular foci. Those persons with healed tubercular foci