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34
Results ' of Residence at Sanatorium.
Turban-Gerhardt classification of cases on admission.
Total number, 150.
Class I. 48 per cent.
,, II. 30 ,, „
„ III 24 „ ,,
In 50 per cent., or 75, the disease on discharge was apparently
arrested, and in 30 per cent, apparently cured. Deducting
from these the probable percentage error of diagnosis, the apparently
cured fall to 10 per cent., and the arrested to 45 per cent.
That is 55 per cent of the cases sent to sanatorium are not
materially affected thereby.
The proper test is, what is the mean length of the after life
time of people so treated? As far as can be judged at present
it seems as if about 50 per cent, are dead within four years of
such treatment—a figure which is much the same as for all notifications.
It is admitted that advanced cases receive little benefit
and in so far as there is a large error of diagnosis in early cases
a statistical difficulty is introduced that makes it almost impossible
to measure with any degree of accuracy the beneficial effects
of the treatment recommended.
The county schemes of Dispensaries and Sanatoria came int->
being in 1910. At first one dispensary only was provided at
Ilford. The Barking Dispensary was subsequently opened in
1913. From that date to the present the work has been mainly
done by the district Medical Officer of Health.
Patients are seen from the consultant point of view—that is,
to confirm a doubtful diagnosis and to select suitable cases for the
County Sanatoria, also to examine as many contacts as can be
reached. It is of interest to note that about 40 per cent of persons
living in contact with Phthisis show some signs which suggest
the presence of the condition. To show the increase in the
work whilst the Dispensary was in charge of the District Officer,
the following figures are of interest :—