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Tuberculosis Register.
The number of cases of tuberculosis on the clinic register has ceased to increase
and may well decline in the future. The number of new cases has not declined further
since 1955. There has been a considerable increase in the number of cases removed
because of death - in many of these the cause of death is known to be a condition
other than tuberculosis. About one third of the deaths occurred in the first quarter
of 1956 during the very cold spell With continued use of domiciliary treatment and
the shortened time of in-patient treatment, the waiting list for admission has
remained of small proportions, even though it is very seldom that one of the beds in
the wards used by the Clinic at either Edgware General Hospital or Colindale Hospital
is empty. An analysis of the age and sex distribution of those tuberculosis cases at
present on the chest clinic register shows that the disease is still largely one of
young adults.
Carcinoma Register
The number of cases diagnosed as having carcinoma of the lung continue steadily
In their treatment a close liaison is maintained with the thoracic surgical units at
Clare Hall and St. Charles Hospitals and the radiotherapeutic department of the
Middlesex Hospital. A large proportion of the follow up work and attention to the
social aspects is undertaken at the chest clinic.
Chronic Bronchitis.
This, and other chronic respiratory disorders, cause much suffering. It has
been possible to take a special interest in the clinical, social and preventive
aspects of this problem, although for many cases the treatments available are not
more than palliative. Close touch with the general practitioners and with the physical
medicine department of Edgware General Hospital is maintained Advantage has been taken
of the special facilities available at Clare Hall Hospital to send out of the built
up area of London during the foggy weather (mid December to February) some patients
with chronic bronchitis particularly affected by adverse weather conditions.
Staff.
Dr. W. E. Snell, Physician Superintendent of Colindale Hospital, has joined the
clinic staff during the year and conducts a short consultative period weekly on
Fridays.
As in previous years, a number of overseas scholars have been attached to the
clinic for various periods during 1956.
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