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Transcribed by Greville Watson, November 2010 |
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Northamptonshire County Council [Extract]
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The following Report has been prepared by Dr. Crane, the Superintendent of the Sanatorium:- “Throughout the year, as in 1936, 84 beds were available for the treatment of patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. The allocation of these beds was a follows:- Men 35, Women 35, Children 14 (boys 7, girls 7). Of these beds, 28 are specially kept for acute and advanced cases, 14 for men and 14 for women. There is also an emergency bed fitted up in a separate room in the administrative block for an acute or advanced case when required. No beds are specially kept for observation cases, but accommodation is always made for such cases, as and when required. During the year, five children and one man were admitted for observation. Three of the children were diagnosed as tuberculous abdominal glands, and two as tuberculous peripheral glands. The man was diagnosed as non-tuberculous and discharged. An average of 81.7 beds was occupied throughout the year. The decrease in the average number of beds occupied is due to the falling off of the number of children admitted, which bears out the advice of the Ministry of Health not to rebuild the Children’s Block. London County Council kept an average of 5.19 beds occupied throughout the year. The majority of children admitted recently have been suffering from the non-pulmonary type of the disease. There were 152 admissions (60 males, 75 females, 17 children) and 147 discharges (60 males, 72 females, 15 children). Once again a large percentage of the adult cases admitted were of a serious and heavy type with widespread disease. One man, with well-marked pulmonary symptoms, and who had an old standing peritonitis, suddenly developed intestinal obstruction due to adhesions. He was sent to hospital for immediate operation and on his return to the Sanatorium, made a good recovery. Another case admitted with tuberculous epididymitis was successfully operated on in hospital and returned to the Sanatorium. Five children were successfully operated on for the removal of tuberculous cervical glands. One female adult case of pulmonary tuberculosis, complicated by diabetes, was treated with Insulin during her stay at the Sanatorium. Routine periodical sedimentation tests have been carried out on all patients during the year, and in addition some blood counts, including a modified Von Bonsdorff Count. Several cases were treated with injections of gold, intramuscular and intravenous, and several other cases received intramuscular injections of Cadmium Sulphide. Artificial Pneumothorax was induced in one case of very severe haemoptysis, and the collapse was maintained with a good result. Thirty-nine refills were given during the year, without the aid of X‑rays, as no X‑ray apparatus was available at the Sanatorium. One sixth of the adult patients admitted were engaged in the boot and shoe industry, and a large number of married women, admitted as housewives, had previously been engaged in this industry. As heretofore, the roads and paths have been kept in good repair by the |
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Gifts
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Gifts of various kinds – books, magazines, toys, eggs, fruit, clothing, etc,. have again been generously given. The local branch of Toc H. have erected a pillar box in the Ritz Cinema for the purpose of collecting books, magazines, etc,. for the patients. The Committee, patients and Medical Superintendent, extend their grateful thanks to all those kind donors. In addition to pictures on the new Talkie Machine, many concerts, plays and whist drives have been given throughout the year. |
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School
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Women patients, free from infection, have given useful help in the instruction of the children. |
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Farm and Garden
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The farm and garden continue to be efficiently run by the gardener. Owing to a bad fruit year, we were unable to exhibit at the |
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General
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The chief exercises and occupations are walking, gardening (including fruit growing, picking and packing), poultry rearing, pig-keeping, joinery, carpentry and painting. Demonstrations in grafting fruit trees are given each year by the For outdoor leisure, bowls, clock golf, and croquet are available, and such indoor games as billiards, darts and table tennis are available. Wireless sets are installed in all the wards. The patients give useful help in the upkeep of the grounds, lawns and buildings. The Medical Superintendent endeavours to instil into all patients the great importance of reporting to the Tuberculosis Officer, after discharge from the Sanatorium. To this end, he sees all patients on discharge and in addition each patients receives printed instructions to this effect (in the case of children, the parent or guardian receives these instructions). They are also advised to get in touch immediately with their own doctor. All patients are also encouraged to keep in touch with the Medical Superintendent, and it is very encouraging how many of them do so. By this means he is often able to give them help or advice regarding some difficulty they may have encountered since their discharge. |
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Re‑building Scheme
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The new bungalow block for twenty female patients was completed and the patients were installed at the end of the year. This block is a very great improvement on the wooden huts from the point of view of both patients and staff. Towards the middle of next year it is hoped to have the new treatment block completed, and the erection of a bungalow block for fourteen patients commenced. The land (two and three quarter acres) mentioned in my last report in connection with the development scheme, has been purchased and railed off, and a quick fence has been planted around. This land will prove to be a most useful acquisition in the new scheme. In addition to the above, the following works still remain to be carried out :- 1. Adoption of first floor of administrative block for staff. 2. Kitchen improvements. 3. Erection of bungalow block for 20 patients.” |
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