Public Dispensaries Research Articles

Deep X-Ray Treatment of Chronic Gonorrheal Infection in the Female

CHRONIC gonorrheal infections have been a menace to civilization ever since ancient times; and, although medical science has done much to alleviate suffering in the great majority of cases, there are still a few of the most chronic gonorrheal infections that fail to respond to general medical treatment, as it is practised to-day. Years before the Great War, and more especially since that event, governments, states, and provinces formed dispensaries for treatment, control, and supervision of patients afflicted with gonorrhea. In Saskatchewan, since the Great War, public dispensaries have been opened and operated under the control and supervision of the Health Department of the Province. These dispensaries are manned by specially trained medical officers, and well selected laboratory assistants, but in the course of time the dispensaries gradually have accumulated a group of cases the smears of which remained positive for diplococci, in spite of prolonged and intensive medical treatment. The Health Department, deciding not to discharge these patients until a cure was effected, realized that some remedy must be found, or these patients would become public charges on the Province for life, also menaces to the public as carriers of infection. In the year 1924, the Health Department learned that Dr. H. E. Young, of British Columbia, had had encouraging results by using deep X-ray treatment on several cases of chronic gonorrheal infection. On the strength of Dr. Young's report, I was instructed by the Provincial Health Department of Saskatchewan to undertake the treatment of six female cases. The case reports pertaining to their physical conditions before and after treatment are appended to this paper. Since I treated these, ten private patients have received similar treatment, with like results. The six cases selected for deep X-ray therapy were all suffering from chronic gonorrhea of long standing, the infection having been present for from two to nine years. Each patient had received intensive medical treatment, consisting of iodine, saline, soda, or lysol douches, all depending on the condition of the cervix; silver nitrate, or glycerin, and carbolic applications to the cervix, twice weekly, and sitz-baths twice weekly. Smears taken showed in every case the presence of pus and gonococci. Discharge in all the cases was of the same kind, being thick, profuse, and of a greenish-yellow color. Two of the patients complained of pains over the region of the tubes, and one patient had had a previous salpingectomy. All had edema and erosions of the cervix. The X-ray technic was the same for each patient, regardless of age, physical condition, physique, or duration of the infection. Treatment was given through two portals of entry—one anterior pelvic, and one posterior pelvic, namely: F.S.D., 50 cm., K.V., 200 peak; filtration, 3/4. Cu and 1 mm. Al; 5 ma.; time, 60 min. for each port of entry. Treatments were given on alternate days.

PREVENTION OF CONGENITAL SYPHILIS BY TREATING MOTHER DURING PREGNANCY

One of the most hopeful achievements of modern antisyphilitic therapy is the birth of children free from the infection of their mother. Statistical reports confirming this statement have been published repeatedly by physicians, both from their private practices and from hospital wards. Some data on the results obtained by treating women during the child-bearing period, recently collected from eighteen municipal clinics of this state, are offered as evidence of the great benefits to be derived from careful treatment of ambulant patients at public clinics or dispensaries. These clinics, with few exceptions, are not associated with hospitals, but are municipally supported and operate under the direction of the city health officer. Only indigent ambulant patients are treated, a majority of whom have been referred to the clinic by physicians and visiting nurses. Until recently, no especial efforts were made to bring under treatment syphilitic pregnant women; hence, comparatively few such records

A FEW OBSERVATIONS OF SOME EASTERN EUROPEAN TOWNS AND HOSPITALS.

The disputed question as to the whereabouts of the largest hospital in the world will be decided in a year or so when the great Ospedale Romana is completed. This enormous establishment was begun in 1893 and has already cost many millions of lire . It will inclose within its limits, in northeastern Rome, all the various public hospitals, dispensaries, laboratories and clinics now scattered over the Imperial city. Instead of numerous isolated institutions, most of them housed in old, insanitary and dingy quarters, there will be but one collection of clean, well built, well drained, well ventilated, well lighted pavilions, replete with all the appliances, and provided with all the improvements that distinguish the modern hospital. On the other hand, the present father of hospitals, the great Allgemeines Krankenhaus at Vienna, grows more and more out-at-the-elbows, down-at-the-heels and baggy-at-the-knees. Nobody has better reason than the writer to appreciate how much

Can the Public Hospitals and Dispensaries of this Country be so Administered as to Conduce More to the Welfare of the Community?

Can the Public Hospitals and Dispensaries of this Country be so Administered as to Conduce More to the Welfare of the Community?

LIX. On the utility of public dispensaries in general; accompanied with a report of the cases in the Finsbury and City Dispensaries for the last three months of the year 1805. Communicated by John Taunton, Esq. Surgeon to the City and Finsbury Dispensaries, and lecturer on anatomy, surgery, &c.

LIX. <i>On the utility of public dispensaries in general; accompanied with a report of the cases in the Finsbury and City Dispensaries for the last three months of the year</i> 1805. <i>Communicated by</i> J<scp>ohn</scp> T<scp>aunton</scp>, <i>Esq. Surgeon to the City and Finsbury Dispensaries, and lecturer on anatomy, surgery, &amp;c.</i>