Stannington Sanatorium Project

Memories of Stannington

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The records of Stannington Sanatorium came to Northumberland Archives in the 1980s and at this point a former patient who was in the sanatorium from 1930-1936 wrote to the then Deputy County Archivist sharing his memories of his time in Stannington:

 

Dear Sir

What a joy and lovely surprise to receive your letter & brochure about Stannington Sanatorium!  I was overcome and close to tears, as having spent nearly 5 ½ years there as a child, & in my formative years Stannington has meant so much to me.  I had a TB knee my parents took me to my Dr. who confirmed it & sent me to Newcastle Infirmary for treatment.  Leg put in Paris of Plaster, did no good to my leg, so I was sent to Stannington feeling terribly homesick & cried every night to go home, however I settled down to a long sojourn & treatment.

Visiting day was once every two months!  My mother, a lovely soul, used to send me books & comics every week.  The Magnet, The Gem, Adventure & Hotspur etc.  How I looked forward to receiving them and a five shilling postal order to buy things at the tuck shop.  Those were the days of hospitals with matrons, sisters, ward sisters, a lady almoner, no unions, but very dedicated nurses and staff, people who loved what they were doing.  Oh yes ward maids who loved us children, the matron was strict but understanding & a comfort too, the nurses used to cuddle us and show us a lot of affection.  I loved it all!

HOSP/STAN/11/1/65
HOSP/STAN/11/1/65

I received good food, had a spoonful of Virol and Numol twice a day, Christmas was special, artists from the Newcastle Empire & Palace came to entertain us, nurses sang carols.  I feel sure we became their children to love and care for I received many kisses from them, the nearness of them as they carried us off to the bathroom was sweet & to a child they became our mothers bless them.  Yes I owe Stannington a lot for my education & way of life because remember it was the thirties & people were hungry and home, no work for men and lots of pawn shops open.  But there was no violence, or muggings as they call it and we could walk the streets at without fear & folk were caring and kind, what a sad state of affairs today Sir.

I was born and bred in Wallsend served my apprenticeship as a joiner at Swan Hunters very strict too.  I had a happy time as a youth, used to dance at the Oxford Galleries, drink at the Pineapple Grill & go every Saturday to the Empire to see visiting bands such as Roy Fox, Harry Roy, Lew Stone etc. and also to a 4 hour show at the Paramount Cinema complete with organ and stage show all for half a crown.  Oh happy days!

I am returning in three weeks’ time I remember a lot of my little friends who died in Stannington while I have been blessed with a good working life, a family & good health.  I am a true Geordie in my nature and spirit I am full of nostalgia for Stannington and Newcastle and those people who were true and dedicated to their work who gave a little boy from Wallsend on Tyne lots of love and care and put me on my feet again.  I have worked out since, in my memory summers were long, people were nice and one never grew old.

Thank you

[HOSP/STAN/13/5]

Miliary TB

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Miliary spread is a pathological process involving the widespread dissemination of the tubercle bacilli but the manifestations of this can vary widely depending on factors such as the speed of the spread and the individual’s ability to inhibit further multiplication of the organisms in other areas of the body.  Miliary tuberculosis is recognised clinically in patients where there is radiographic evidence of tuberculous lesions of the same age distributed evenly throughout all areas of the lung.  This process is most likely to occur soon after the initial infection and is also more common in children under 5 than it is in older children.

 

It is not uncommon to see miliary tuberculosis develop further into tuberculous meningitis.  Whilst on the whole the death rate in Stannington was relatively low, in the pre-antibiotic era (pre-1947) it is noticeable that a significant number of fatalities are as a result of either miliary TB or TB meningitis.  The introduction of effective drug therapies altered this situation greatly and the prospects for these patients after this point improved significantly.

 

Patient 3/1947 was a 12 year old boy from Lemington-on-Tyne who was admitted to Stannington in January 1947 diagnosed with miliary tuberculosis.  A report on x-ray films taken in December 1946 prior to his admission describes extensive mottled shadowing across both lungs with hilar shadows much enlarged.  The Northumberland County medical officer of health that refers the boy to Stannington gives the following report:

‘States no cough.  Mother says he thinks he gets a bit short of breath at times, and that he has definitely lost weight.  On examination, slight cyanotic tinge; afebrile, pulse 108.  General condition satisfactory (amazing in view of films).  Little made out in chest apart from slight impairment of the air entry at both bases.  Mass of glands at right side of neck.’

 

Figure 1 is a chest x-ray taken the day after his admission and the report on it simply reads, ‘extensive bilateral miliary spread’.  The extensive mottled ‘snowstorm’ effect is indicative of miliary TB.  Strict bed rest is ordered and at this point he also has an enlarged gland at the angle of the jaw on the right side for which UV light treatment is prescribed.  Over the coming months the abscess on the jaw is described as discharging freely with brownish pus aspirated from it in June 1947.

Figure 1 - HOSP/STAN/7/1/2/1371_84
Figure 1 – HOSP/STAN/7/1/2/1371_84
09 Jan 1947
Figure 2 - HOSP/STAN/7/1/2/1371_05
Figure 2 – HOSP/STAN/7/1/2/1371_05
17 Sept 1947

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In September 1947 the patient’s doctor suggests that he would be a suitable candidate for streptomycin treatment, which had only recently been introduced at this point.  However, having discussed the case further it was decided that he was not suitable as at this point in time streptomycin was being used for very early cases only and patient 3/1947 by now had a long history of TB and was doing very well without it.  Figure 2, is an x-ray taken around the time streptomycin treatment was being discussed and the report reads, ‘X-ray shows a little improvement.  Each individual lesion is smaller.’

 

Two months later in November 1947 his condition deteriorates a little and he begins to lose weight and so is again put forward for streptomycin ‘if any available.’  Whilst the attending doctor continues to push for streptomycin over the coming months it is not until November 1948 that the patient receives any.  There are continuing disputes as to whether he is a suitable candidate.  During this time his general condition fluctuates with periods of weight gain and weight loss and x-rays from April and June 1948 show some improvements, figures 3 and 4 respectively.

Figure 3 - HOSP/STAN/7/1/2/1371_09
Figure 3 – HOSP/STAN/7/1/2/1371_09
13 April 1948
‘Amazing improvement since last x-ray 3 months ago. The military lesions now appear to be resolving: the apices are almost clear. There is now a more homogenous opacity in the left lower lobe.’
Figure 4 - HOSP/STAN/7/1/2/1371_10
Figure 4 – HOSP/STAN/7/1/2/1371_10
04 June 1948
‘still some mottling at the bases, the apices are clear. The more homogenous density at the L base is getting smaller. Azygos lobe on right side.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ultimately the catalyst leading to the decision being made for streptomycin treatment to be commenced appears to be the fact that in June 1948 a swelling over the lower dorsal spine is identified and it is apparent that the tuberculous infection has spread further.  It is clear from radiographic evidence in 1948 that there are three spinal lesions: one in the 5th and 6th dorsal vertebrae causing some kyphosis; another affecting the 1st and 3rd lumbar vertebrae causing some deformity; and a final one in the inferior and anterior part of the body of the 5th lumbar vertebrae with some destruction.

 

All streptomycin treatment is discontinued by May 1949 when significant improvements in his chest are seen and treatment of the spinal lesions is continued with braces and plaster casts.  He is eventually discharged in July 1950 wearing a spinal brace and continues to be seen by the out-patients’ service until April 1954 when an abscess in the left iliac fossa leads to him being considered for admission to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Figure 5 - HOSP/STAN/7/1/2/1371_18
Figure 5 – HOSP/STAN/7/1/2/1371_18
Spinal X-ray, 17 Jan 1950, calcifications in the lungs also evident.
Figure 6 - HOSP/STAN/7/1/2/1371_85
Figure 6 – HOSP/STAN/7/1/2/1371_85
Spinal X-ray, 10 July 1950, 4 days before discharge
Figure 7 - HOSP/STAN/7/1/2/1371_14 Chest X-ray, 17 Feb 1950, also showing calcifications in neck glands.
Figure 7 – HOSP/STAN/7/1/2/1371_14
Chest X-ray, 17 Feb 1950, also showing calcifications in neck glands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

MILLER, F. J. W, SEAL, R. M. E, and TAYLOR, M. D. (1963) Tuberculosis in Children, J & A Churchill Ltd.

Patient 133/1959 – A Case of Fibrocystic Disease

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The radiographs held within the Stannington Sanatorium Collection date between 1936 and 1953 and are specific to the period when the sanatorium was used as a hospital for tuberculous children. However, through the process of listing the patient files for Stannington, which continue up until 1966, well into its use as a general children’s hospital, we have uncovered a set of radiographs for one other patient, a 6 year old boy who was admitted to Stannington on 15th June 1959: Patient 133/1959.

Patient 133/1959 was diagnosed with Fibrocystic Disease of the Pancreas, a generalised hereditary condition amongst children which, despite its name, can affect not only the pancreas but also the liver, lungs and sweat glands and was considered to be the most common cause of chronic non-tuberculous lung disease in children during the 1950s.

This patient was admitted to Stannington with widespread cystic change in both lungs, retarded growth and signs of chronically infected bronchiectasis. His medical notes also refer to ‘finger clubbing’, which involves changes to the areas of soft tissue under and surrounding the finger nails but may also involve the nails themselves. At this stage in his treatment the patient was prescribed penicillin, monitored for changes in weight and subjected to postural drainage.

By September 1959, the boy’s medical notes read:

‘No gain in weight and very little sputum but he has many loud râles in both sides of chest and a loose cough.’

 

At this time it is also noted that he has been prescribed pancreatin, a drug to help treat the symptoms of cystic fibrosis and to aid with digestion of fat, starch and protein. His lack of weight gain was considered to be associated with problems in the colon and as such his stools were also monitored regularly.

Little change is seen in the notes for the following year, weight gain is still elusive and the patient is often referred to as being small, with râles in the chest and having shortness of breath. However, in October 1960 the severity of this patient’s condition becomes clear as the attending physician writes:

‘Very poor appetite and very difficult.

I do not understand how this problem can be solved.’

However, from May 1961, this boy began to show slow improvements especially within regards to the colon and weight gain is evident with a total gain of 8lbs since admittance. Râles are still noted in the left side of the chest, see lung x-ray in Figure 1.

HOSP-STAN-07-01-02-2243-02
Figure 1 – HOSP-STAN-07-01-02-2243-02

In addition to his medical problems this boy also had learning difficulties according to notes from the hospital school teacher stating he was:

‘very much retarded and would need more individual help and attention ….

He is slow to complete written assignments but makes a good effort. His reading and arithmetic are well below average for his age but he has made satisfactory progress in both within his limited ability.’

As a result the doctors approached the subject of finding this boy a long term residential school for handicapped children to be transferred to following his discharge.

Patient 133/1959, remained in Stannington until 1962, where he continued to make improvements regarding his weight and height and the râles in his chest diminished significantly. In March 1962, he contracted German measles and then later chicken pox in June 1962. Despite these short term illnesses, this patient was discharged home in August 1962, having secured a place at the Windlestone Hall residential school near Ferryhill, County Durham, to begin in September 1962.

 

Sources:

di Sant’agnese, Paul. A (1955). The Pulmonary Manifestations of Fibrocystic Disease of the Pancreas. Chest. 27(6):654-667

Medline Plus (2015). Clubbing of the Fingers and Toes. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003282.htm

Patient (2015). Pancreatin. http://patient.info/medicine/pancreatin

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