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and after Institutional Treatment, have been placed on domiciliary
treatment under their own Panel Practitioners. Quarterly reports
on the Form G.P. 36 as shown on Table I, have been received
satisfactorily on the whole, enabling the Tuberculosis Officer to
keep in touch with patients during the course of treatment.
Dispensary Treatment. Children and non-insured persons
able to attend, have been treated at the Dispensary as usual.
Artificial Pneumothorax. One patient has been receiving
treatment at the Dispensary, attending regularly for refills.
X-Rays. From Table I. it will be seen that the X-Rays have
been used in cases for the purpose of diagnosis. 29 cases having
been X-Rayed during the year.
Non-Pulmonary Cases. Adults have been treated, as usual,
at the Royal Sea-Bathing Hospital, Margate.
Children. The Department has been called upon to provide
treatment for an increasing number of cases of Tuberculosis of
Bones and Joints. At the end of the year, 25 beds were in use,
the majority being in the Alexandra Hospital, Swanley.
The General Hospitals are now constantly calling upon this
Department to accept responsibility for Institutional Treatment in
increasing numbers. The dwindling resources of Voluntarv Hospitals
and increasing financial stress are, possibly, responsible for
this.
Tuberculosis of Skin. Under the usual arrangements, these
cases have continued to receive treatment at the London Hospital.
After Care. The number of recipients of grants of Fxtra
Nourishment has averaged 100.
After Care Colony and Village Settlement. Three ex-service
men were admitted to the British Legion Village. Two men were
admitted to the Papworth Colony. At the end of the year there
were four patients in these Colonies; it is expected that three of
these will settle in the Colony. No men, however, were colonised
during the year—one was discharged as unsuitable.
Prevention. Need of Educational Work. It is worthy of
note that cases have been examined at the Dispensary who have
stated that they had been dosing themselves with patent medicines
for weeks or even months before calling in their Panel Doctors.
Other patients have stated that they only have 15 to 20 minutes
to spend over their mid-day meal; the rest of the hour is spent in
coming and going. Others have neither Milk, Fruit nor Green
Salads, but do not deny themselves Alcohol, Tobacco or Sweets.
These facts bring to light the existence of considerable lack
of knowledge of the prevention of ill health in general and of
Tuberculosis in particular, and emphasize the need and importance
of Health Week and other educational work.
As reported previously, the work of Prevention continues to
be hampered bv overcrowding and unemployment.
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