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a fair chance at least of maintaining; the improvement they have
made during their sojourn in the sanatorium. This was impossible
in many cases during 1931, as the economic stringency compelled
men, especially, to resume employment in order to keep their jobs.
During the year there were three male and five female cases
transferred from general hospitals to the sanatorium by ambulance,
these naturally require a longer period of treatment than those in
a more fit condition and further tends to make the pressure upon
the present accommodation all the more intense.
Artificial Pneumothorax.
This surgical method of treatment continues to hold a foremost
place in cases of severe hæmorrhage or where one lung only
is affected, or at the most, the other lung is slightly infiltrated and
is not active. In 1931 at Harts there were 151 refils done, several
of the patients continuing in active work and attending at the sanatorium
for their periodic refilling operations. The progress of this
treatment is of course, carefully observed by frequent screenings,
etc., by means of the X-rays, and the arrangement with The Forest
Hospital, Buckhurst Hill, continues to function smoothly, but there
is no doubt that more efficient work could be done if there were an
X-ray apparatus at "Harts," not only for artificial pneumothorax
patients but in many other cases. However, the plans of the new
pavilion provide for an X-ray room, etc., so it is confidently hoped
that this difficulty will be removed in the near future. The fact
that in June the old direct current system of electric supply was
discontinued and the alternating current system of the County of
London Electric Supply Company installed will make the fitting
up of an X-ray apparatus a simple matter.
Bacteriology.
The number of specimens of sputum examined in 1931 was
236, this being a slight increase on the number of 1930. In
addition several specimens of pleural effusions, urine, pus, faeces,
etc., were microscopically examined.
Four blood-sugar estimations were obtained for a diabetic
patient.