[Report 1908] / Medical Officer of Health, Brighton County Borough.

  • Brighton (England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1908] / Medical Officer of Health, Brighton County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    124/124 (page 124)
    These stringent conditions naturally led us far afield before a suitable place could be found. Finally, Fulking Grange premises, situated on the Downs immediately to the south of the Village of Fulking, were purchased in 1902—the house, a barn, and 11 acres of land, costing £2,012. The cost of alterations and subsequent repairs have been £1,903. The net result, then, of an expenditure of, roughly, £64,000, is the provision of 160 beds at the Sanatorium and 14 beds at Fulking Grange. Since 1881, 11,635 patients have been treated at the Sanatorium, and 85'6 per cent, of the total number of notified cases of Scarlet Fever were removed to hospital during last year. These two figures prove, respectively,, the immense number of cases treated at this Institution and its popularity. The work which has created, perhaps, the greatest amount of interest in recent years is the treatment of consumptive patients at the Sanatorium. Work undertaken lo lessen the spread of Consumption was first commenced in 1893, when visits were paid to each house in which a death from this disease had occurred, in order that a history of the illness might be taken and disinfection carried out. Later, in January, 1899, a scheme for the Voluntary ^Notification of Phthisis was put into operation, Brighton being the first town in which phthisis cases were notified. At first, attention was paid to the education of patients in their own homes; they were taught to observe simple rules to prevent the spread of infection, and cards of instruction were left. The admission of patients into the Sanatorium has done a great deal to encourage practitioners to notify their cases. The admission of these patients was begun in May, 1902. Up to the end of last year, 730 patients had been treated. At the present time there is an average of some 20 Phthisis patients being continuously treated all the year round. At first, the idea followed was to treat early cases for short periods of about one month. During that time, the patients were educated to appreciate the benefit of fresh air, and also to take proper precautions regarding their sputum. Naturally, at first, a considerable accumulation of patients had to be got through, but now, in the absence of so great a number of fresh early cases, more advanced cases are being admitted and are treated for longer periods. In this connection, one must not forget the useful work of segregation of consumptive patients which the Brighton and Steyning Guardians carry out. The half-starved pauper is just the person to be readily infected by phthisis, and, therefore, it was a happy idea to isolate the consumptives in these workhouses. At present, in the Brighton Workhouse, a male ward with.30 beds, and female wards for 6 patients, are reserved for consumptives, but I hear that even this is, at times, insufficient for the number of cases amongst the inmates. The treatment of consumptive patients has had most beneficial results. It has been proved beyond doubt that many patients have lived several years longer than they would have done had they not received the Sanatorium treatment. In conclusion, I feel sure that you will realise that the health of Brighton is safeguarded in the most tliorough fashion by the Sanitary Committee and its officers. No greater proof of the health-giving pro- perties of Bi’ighton could be furnished than the fact that His Most Gracious Majesty the King has honoured us with two visits during the past twelve months. His Majesty is still in our midst, and as loyal subjects we are glad to know that he is being steadily restored to health.