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TYPHOID OF THE LUNG
In February 1958, a ship arrived in London from Mombasa and reported the landing of a
seaman at Las Palmas with a diagnosis of typhoid fever. Routine measures of investigation
and disinfection were at once started. Shortly afterwards a cablegram was received by the
Shipping Company in London stating that the man had been ultimately diagnosed as suffering
from an amoebic Liver Abscess.
Two months later another ship of the same line arrived in London and in the course of
routine enquiries it was learned from the Ship's Surgeon that the man landed at Las Palmas had
been brought home in the ship as a case of Pulmonary Tuberculosis and possible Amoebiasis
and was being sent to the Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich, for X-ray and investigation.
Later, Dr. M.J. Andrews, Medical Registrar, Seamen's Hospital, reported that on admission
to hospital the man was found to have numerous salmonella typhi in his sputum and a chest
X-ray showed a left pleural effusion with some underlying consolidation.
The case was diagnosed as one of typhoid of the lung — a very rare complaint. Treatment
was continued over a period of five weeks and at the time of discharge the patient was feeling
perfectly well and considered to be non-infectious.
I am very much indebted to Dr. M.J. Andrews for the very full report he provided on this
interesting case.
DENTON HOSPITAL
Although Denton Hospital has been taken over by the South East Metropolitan Regional
Hospital Board under the National Health Services Act, the Port Health Authority continue to
exercise, through Dr. H.M. Willoughby, the Deputy Medical Officer, and the Assistant Port
Medical Officers, the medical supervision of cases admitted to the hospital.
Consultant advice on difficult cases is available through Dr. J. Pickford Marsden, PhysicianSuperintendent
of Joyce Green Hospital, Dartford, who whenever necessary transfers cases there
for special investigation and treatment.
The nursing and administrative control of Denton Hospital lies with the Dartford Hospital
Management Committee.
The number of cases admitted to the hospital in 1958 was as follows
8