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of cases on the tuberculosis register serve as a guide as to the real prevalence of the disease. One
can also take the annual number of deaths as being a measure of prevalence. This is probably the
most exact method which can be used at the present time.
From pulmonary tuberculosis there were 120 deaths in 1924 and 89 in 1925. From tuberculous
meningitis there were 11 deaths in 1924 and 11 in 1925. From other tuberculous diseases there
were 18 deaths in 1924 and 16 in 1925.
The number of deaths from tuberculosis of all kinds was 149 in 1924 and 116 in 1925. In recent
years the number of deaths was as follows:—
1919 133 1923 127
1920 146 1924 149
1921 125 1925 116
1922 143
DISPENSARY TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS.
For administrative purposes the borough is divided into two dispensary areas, the line of division
passing down Inverness Terrace, Porchester Road, Ranelagh Road, Formosa Street (to its junction
with Shirland Road), Shirland Road (to its junction with Kilburn Park Road), and Kilburn Park
Road. The portion of the borough to the east of this line is served by the St. Mary's Hospital Dispensary,
and the portion to the west of the line by the Paddington Tuberculosis Dispensary.
Paddington Tuberculosis Dispensary, 20, Talbot Road.
This is a voluntary agency supported by voluntary subscriptions and a grant from the Paddington
Borough Council, which amounted to £1,288 annually during 1924 and 1925.
The following notes on the work of this dispensary have been furnished by Dr. R. S. Walker,
Tuberculosis Officer.
Accommodation.—Basement comprises : Kitchen, back room (boiler room), scullery, pantry.
Ground Floor : Secretary's office, waiting-room, pharmacy, office. First Floor : Medical Officer's
room, dressing-rooms, nurses' room. Second Floor: Committee room, dentist's room. Third
Floor : Laboratory, porter's bedroom. One bathroom, three water closets.
Staff.—Medical officer, dental surgeon, two nurses, secretary, dispenser (part time), porter and
wife.
Times of Sessions.—New Patients: Monday and Wednesday, at 9.30 a.m. Old Patients:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, at 2 p.m. Working Adults : Monday, at 6 p.m.
Dental Clinic : Tuesday, at 2 p.m.
Records and Clerical work.—Card index and Register system of all medical records. Complete
records of all Home Conditions and other sociological data are kept by the secretary.
Bacteriological work.—This work has during the last few years been done outside the dispensary
owing to insufficient staff. After the appointment of a Bacteriologist it is proposed to undertake
the whole of the sputum examinations for the borough.
Co-operation with Borough Council.—Every effort has been made to co-operate the work of the
dispensary with that of the Borough Public Health Department. In order that there should not
be any overlapping or inconsistency of work between the two, the Medical Officer of Health and
the Tuberculosis Officer have agreed upon co-ordinative measures whereby the most efficient results
may be obtained.
Co-operation with general hospitals, etc.—By courtesy of St. Mary's Hospital and Paddington
Green Children's Hospital, all patients presenting themselves at the dispensary for examination and
found not to be suffering from Tuberculosis, but from some other condition requiring special treatment
other than that which can be given by a general practitioner, are referred to the special department
concerned at one of these hospitals. The same procedure applies to Tuberculous patients
developing complications.
All school children who are not definitely suffering from Tuberculosis but who require special
care, are notified on special cards to the London County Council district Medical Officer. These
children are referred back to the dispensary by the school Medical Officer if progress is not considered
satisfactory.
All children suspected to have Tuberculosis by the School Medical Officer at the school clinics
are sent to the dispensary for treatment.
This dispensary has a Tuberculosis Open-Air School in the near vicinity of which the Tuberculosis
Officer is the Medical Officer.
Co-operation with General Practitioners.—It is realised that the co-operation and confidence of
the general practitioners in the methods and activities of the dispensary are essential if the campaign
to eradicate the disease is to be successful. Under a special arrangement and by a series of special