Sixty-seventh annual report of the County and City of Worcester Mental Hospital, Powick, for 1919-20, and financial statements.

  • County and City of Worcester Mental Hospital (Powick)
Date:
1920
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Sixty-seventh annual report of the County and City of Worcester Mental Hospital, Powick, for 1919-20, and financial statements. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    15/40 page 13
    *3 appearance, and from records, which shew that they have gained considerably in weight during the past few months, their general health seemed to be excellent. Against this, however, must be placed the fact that Tuberculosis is- still claiming a large number of victims. This disease has shewn a constant increase since 1914, the death rates per 1,000 resident being 12 in that year, 17 in 1915, 29 in 1916, 74 in 1917, and 162 in 1918. These rates for the last two years are most alarming ; that for 1917 being more than double, and that for 1918 more than treble the mean rates for all Asylums. Though we have reason to believe that a few cases of Tuberculosis have been introduced into the Institution, 3 new admissions, it cannot be said that this, in any way, accounts for the very large number of cases which have occurred. We believe that the lowering of the vitality of the Patients, owing to War deficiencies in diet, rendered them much more liable to infection, and we are satisfied that the very defective segregation of affected persons has afforded the opportunity for the spread of the disease. With regard to the second of these points, we again urge on the Committee the absolute necessity of so re-arranging the Wards for the sick, that every known case of Tuberculosis shall (unless their mental condition is an insuperable bar) be completely isolated from other Patients. To render this effective, and to prevent non-infectious cases being placed in Wards with tubercular Patients, all doubtful cases should be examined bacteriologically. As to the first point, we consider that everything should be done to build up the physical condition of patients, in order that they may be in the best possible condition to resist disease. We believe that, largely owing to recent additions to the dietary, this has already, to a great extent, been accomplished, as the deaths from Tuberculosis, so far as recorded this year, are materially less than those during the same period of 1918 ; but we urge that, until normal health has been fully established, the existing diet should be still further improved on the lines indicated by us to Dr. Braine-
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3