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are trained in various spheres of useful work, e.g., Cabinet Making,
Gardening, Poultry Farming, Leather Work of all kinds and Printing,
etc., and the patients are paid for the work they do.
Suitable cases are allowed to "Colonise," that is to say, they make
the Colony their home and if married they are given adequate accommodation
for their families.
Burrow Hill Colony, near Frimley, trains male adolescents between
the ages of 13 and 19. They specialise in two distinct courses of training—
(1) Clerical: (2) Horticultural. These patients may be kept in the Colony
for a period of up to two years and on their discharge, after a complete
course of training, should be fitted both physically and economically to
take their place in the outside world.
The following cases were recommended to the London County Council
for Institutional treatment during the year:—
Adults.
Under 15 years.
Hospital for Observation
11
15
Sanatorium
151
10
Hospital
74
3
SPECIAL TREATMENTS.
For many years the treatment of tuberculosis consisted of rest, good
food and fresh air. Some 35 years ago an additional principle of treatment
was introduced, based on the theory of auto-inoculation. After an initial
period of rest patients were put on gradually increasing amounts of
exercise and work, the aim being for the patients progressively to
immunise themselves against the increasing amounts of poisons liberated
by the tuberculous lesion in the course of the graduated exercise.
In the last 20 years further advances have been made by the
application of surgical treatment of lung disease ; and by this means to the
principle of rest to the body as a whole, is added the method of rest to
the diseased part. This process, collectively called collapse therapy,
may be attained in several different ways. The most widely used of these
operations is that known as Artificial Pneumothorax which consists of
introducing a cushion of air between the lung and the chest wall. This
operation has the merit of being simple and practically painless, but the
air has to be replaced at intervals owing to its gradual absorption. Since
the installation of the x.Ray plant in the Dispensary it has been possible
to carry out these refills on the premises, thus saving the patient the
inconvenience of attending both the Dispensary for supervision and a
Hospital for refills.