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70.
cases sent for X-ray examination are sent by appointment
to the latter institution. The number of patients
so referred in 1930 was—136, an increase of 27 over
the previous year.
Such examinations are always reported upon by the
Hospital Radiologists, and 1 he films sent to the Tuberculosis
Dispensary, where they are seen by the Tuberculosis
Officers and the case sheets suitably annotated:
they are then filed for future reference.
X-rays form a most valuable adjunct to the physical
examinations of patients, and they are essential in dealing
with suspected disease in bone and joint cases, which
is sometimes impossible to diagnose with accuracy by
external means alone.
Specialised Treatments for Tuberculosis.
Various forms of operative and other treatment,
which are used with success in appropriate cases, are
carried out at the present time in hospitals and sanatoria.
Amongst these may be mentioned:—
(1) Artificial Pneumothorax and Oleo-thorax.
(2) Apicolysis.
(3) Thoracoplasty.
(4) Phrenic evulsion and phrenicotomy.
(5) Tuberculin injections.
(6) Sanocrysin.
(1) Artificial Pneumothorax. This consists in the
gradual collapse of the lung substance by the intromission
of air within the pleural sac, i.e. that portion of the
thorax which lies between the lining of the lung and the
inner lining of the chest wall. Filtered air is used,
first under atmospheric tension and then at a very slight
positive pressure from a specially contrived apparatus
and through a hollow needle inserted in the chest wall.
Applications of local anaesthetic render this process
quite painless: and the patient suffers little or no discomfort
from the procedure. The idea of course is to
put that part of the lung which is diseased at rest bv
decreasing respiratory air-entry and movement, and so
promote a chance of healing.This form of treatment