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16
The artificial pneumo-thorax clinic at St. Nicholas' Hospital continued its
work during the year. The total number of attendances at the clinic was 2,912.
Clinics at other London hospitals were attended by 83 patients, who received
2,110 refills.
The number of applications for maintenance allowances received during the
year was 121. On the 1st January, 102 patients were receiving an allowance,
115 were granted an allowance during the year, and at the end of the year 108
patients were in receipt of an allowance.
The Tuberculosis Care Committee continued its excellent work of providing
for the after-care of patients and assistance to dependants. Four quarterly
meetings of the full Committee were held, and the General Purposes Sub-Committee
met on 8 occasions. Assistance was given in many ways including the supply of
pocket money, clothing, shoes, extra nourishment, beds and bedding, and fares
for relatives to visit patients in institutions. The funds come from interest on
investments ; donations both from employees of firms in the Borough and from
private sources ; and by the sale of Christmas Seals.
Laboratory Facilities. The Council's bacteriological work is carried out
in the Pathological Department of the Woolwich Memorial Hospital. During
the year 621 throat and nasal swabs were examined ; 1,191 specimens of sputum ;
26 specimens of faeces ; 10 specimens of urine ; 25 specimens of blood ; 8 specimens
of various foodstuffs and 9 specimens of water.
The practice of submitting samples of water from the public swimming baths
for examination was continued. Fifty-eight such samples were submitted during
the year and apart from some occasional slight over-chlorination, the results were
generally satisfactory.
Disinfection and Disinfestation. Infected articles of bedding, clothing,
etc., and articles infested with bugs are disinfected at the Council's Disinfecting
Station, White Hart Road, Plumstead ; but the personal clothing of persons
treated at the two Cleansing Stations is disinfected at those two stations.
During the year 15,475 articles were disinfected at the three stations. The
number of rooms disinfected after cases of infectious disease was 502, and of these,
89 had been occupied by tuberculous persons. The number of rooms disinfested
of vermin was 947.
Personal Cleansing Stations are situated at the Turkish Baths, Plumstead
High Street, and at the Eltham Hill Health Centre, Sherard Road. Part of the
premises of the Turkish Baths was adapted as a Cleansing Station as a temporary
measure after the destruction in 1941 of the former cleansing station at White
Hart Road. Pending fruition of a plan for the erection of a combined cleansing
and disinfecting station the premises at the Turkish Baths were structurally
altered, enabling the service to be more permanent and efficient.
The number of persons cleansed of vermin was 2,108 and the number of
persons (including contacts) treated for scabies was 969. The total number of
attendances was 3,739.