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68
The immediate results of treatment are as follows:—
39 cases were discharged as "Quiescent."
58 cases were discharged as " Not Quiescent."
Of the latter 48 (30 males, 17 females and 1 child) were
"improved," and 10 (6 males and 4 females) were "not
improved."
Three of the children were non-pulmonary cases.
The average duration of treatment for 1933 was approximately
7 weeks longer per patient than for 1932, this being due
largely to the fact that in view of the completion of the new block
more advanced cases were admitted than hitherto. When the
new pavilion was opened in October all the East Ham cases of
Pulmonary Tuberculosis then under treatment in Whipps Cross
Hospital were transferred to "Harts," the number being 13 (5
males and 8 females).
A considerable number of the patients had previous sanatorium
treatment, 24 (16 males and 8 females) one period, 5 (3
males and 2 females) two periods, and 1 female three periods.
The deaths numbered 11, and 4 of these occurred in the single
cubicles after the new pavilion was opened, and it was strikingly
noticeable not only what comfort the seclusion gave to patients
and relatives, but also the immense psychological effect upon those
more fortunate patients who were up and about, not to have
fellow-sufferers dying in their midst.
Apart from those cases transferred from Whipps Cross Hospital
there were 22 patients admitted by ambulance in 1933, 15
from their homes and 7 from general hospitals. Speaking generally,
those so admitted from their homes were acutely ill and
advanced, whilst those from the hospitals were usually fairly early
cases and derived the utmost benefit from sanatorium treatment.
There can be no doubt that by removing advanced pulmonary
cases from homes where housing conditions are inadequate and
segregating them in a hospital-block as can now be done at
"Harts," an appreciable effect will in due time be noticed upon
the incidence of tuberculosis in East Ham.
Up to the end of 1933 no action had been necessary to implement
Section 62 of the Public Health Act, 1925, by which an
advanced case can be compelled to enter an institution.