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129
Results of Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
124 males and 74 females were discharged from, or died in,
Sanatoria in connection with the Croydon scheme during 1930. In
group (1) 7 males and 11 females were discharged with the disease
in a quiescent condition, i.e., 40% of the total cases in this group;
6 male and 6 females were improved, 26.6%; 2 males and 3 females
showed no materia. improvement., 11.1%; 2 males died, 4.4%. In
group (2) the corresponding figures were 6 males and 3 females
quiescent, 40.9%; 7 males and 1 female improved, 36.3%; 1 male
no improvement, 4.5%, and 3 males and 1 female died, 18.1%. In
group (3) 11 males and 3 females quiescent, 15.7%; 25 males and
16 females improved, 46.0%; 19 males and 8 females no improvement,
30.3%; and 2 males and 3 females died, 5.6%. In the
advanced group no cases were discharged quiescent; 5 males and 4
females were discharged improved, 23.6%; 9 males and 6 females
no improvement, 39.4% ; and 14 males and no females died, 37.0%.
Taking all groups together, 22.6% of cases were discharged as
quiescent; 38.1% as improved; 25.7% as no improvement; and
13.4% died.
These figures prove, what has been so often proved before,
that if tuberculosis is to be cured and eradicated the first essential
is to educate the patients themselves and the medical profession in
the paramount necessity for early and thorough treatment.
General Observations on the Results of Treatment.
The onset of Pulmonary Tuberculosis is insidious and considerable
bodily damage has been caused before the majority of cases
seek advice. The process of arrest is slow; once damaged, lung
tissue does not regenerate, and the most that can be aimed at is
prevention of an extension of the damage, and healing of the tissue
affected, by the formation of scars.
The greatest factors making for success are patience on the
part of the sufferer and helpful optimism on the part of his medical
adviser. All who are unfortunately attacked sufficiently severely
to cause symptoms should reconcile themselves to the fact that for
the rest of their lives they will have to be circumspect, and that
errors of judgment or carelessness will be visited by a retribution
more severe than in the case of healthy people.
No Tuberculous person, able to work, should lead a life of
idleness. Occupation suited to their medical needs is far more