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104
BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK.
Southwark Tuberculosis Dispensary,
82-84, Newington Causeway, S.E
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Borough of Southwark.
Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have pleasure in presenting herewith my Annual Report for the
year 1924. I took over charge of the Tuberculosis work in Southwark
in April last, and have endeavoured to carry on the work on similar lines
to my predecessor, Dr. Wilson. Thanks to the very able, energetic and
loyal staff I think we have succeeded in our endeavours, as the appended
tables will show. The overcrowding of industrial tenements and dwellings
is still a very difficult problem.
A large number of cases have been sent away to Sanatoriums under
the London County Council Scheme, and it is a great thing that they
are able to send the London patients to such a varied number of sanatoriums,
situate in all parts of the South and Midlands. The question
of advanced cases is still rather difficult, and there are so comparatively few
places which will take them, and advanced cases unfortunately are so
averse to going away at all. The Invalid Children's Aid Society do
invaluable work in the way of sending delicate children away to suitable
Convalescent Homes. The Care Committee also do good work in keeping
the families of patients at Sanatoria under supervision during their
absence. The Nurses have paid a very large number of visits to the
homes of the patients and do most excellent propaganda work in instructing
both the patients themselves and their families how to keep their
homes— in spite of all kinds of disadvantages—in a healthy and sanitary
condition.
We have had three shelters in constant use, and some of the patients
say they would not sleep inside a house again. Nourishment has been
given to a number of patients from the Dispensary, especially in cases
waiting for admission to, and for a short time after discharge from
Sanatorium. We have also lent out eight beds for the use of patients
in their own homes. The X-Ray has been used with great advantage in
the diagnosis of difficult cases at Guy's Hospital. Light treatment has
been used with good results on cases of Tuberculosis of the Skin.
We have had 840 specimens of sputum examined at the Analyst's
Department of the Borough. A good watch is kept on the old cases,
both by ourselves and the periodic reports the County Council require,
but a large amount of work has been done for the ex-service consumptive
patients by the Ministry of Pensions in conjunction with the Dispensary.
I append tables of statistics of the work done during the year 1924.
I am, Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
J. T. CROWE,
Tuberculosis Officer.