[Report 1927] / Monmouthshire County Council.

  • Monmouthshire County Council
Date:
1927
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1927] / Monmouthshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    62/104 (page 56)
    is*, the task of the family medical attendant and the tuberculosis officer. Time and again in taking a history one hears the words anaemia and gastritis—^not to mention influenza and neurasthenia—^which haive been used to slur over early mainifestations of tuberculosis. Prognosis in pulmonary tuberculosis has often been difiicult to decide upm because power of resistance to disease and the personal factor were not easy of estimation, and thei treatment at Cefn ISlably Hospital has frequently provided welcome surprises. PENSION CASES.—In the passage of years most of the cases of pulmonary tuberculosis have ended in death, and there only remains a balance of chronic mixed infections—syphilis, bronchiectasis, and fibrosis following g'un-shot wounds combining with tuberculosis to lengthen the pensionable period. To these may be added joint and bone lesions, which do not make for convalescence from various reasons But they cannot earn a livelihood. SOCIOLOGY.—Many of the districts in the West Monmouthshire Area have suffered severely and for a lengthened period from trade depression,‘but so far there has not been definite evidence that want of nourishment has been productive of an increased incidence of tuberculosis. Indeed, one has been surprised by the main- tenance of bodily weight and resistance to disease in children living in homes where the pinch ofj poverty must have been felt. But one cannot help thinking that the mothers’ resistance to tuberculosis has broken dowui under the strain. CARE WORK.—The After-care Committees, which were appointed four years ago, have not yet commenced to function on account of want of the necessary funds, but we have had the services of the District Nurses and the County Health Visitors, whom we have supplied with the names and addresses of patients requir- ing attention. The Chthopaedic Nurses from Gian Ely Hospital have regularly looked after their particular cases, who also have the advantage of attendance at Dr. Brownlee’s monthly clinic as required PERSONNEL.—Dr Frank Wells has been my willing helper in the work of the area, and the duties of Tuberculosis Sister have, as heretofore, been efficiently carried out by Miss Elizabeth Williams. As required, we have had the services of the County Health Visitors at our Visiting Stations, which liave been supplied with all the necessaries and appliances requisitioned. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.— —As in all the years, we have worked in close touch with the County Health Authority, I/ocal Medical Officerc of Health, and all the General Practitioners in the area. Tliis hearty collaboration is very cheer- ing in a ta.sk wdiich presents so' many difficulties and sources of discouragement-