Genitourinary TB – Part 1

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Genitourinary TB is the most common form of extra-pulmonary TB today, although the proportion of children in Stannington suffering from this form of TB is relatively low.  Symptoms can include fever, increased urination, and blood in the urine.  In children it is most commonly found either amongst young infants or not until a child reaches puberty and is also a leading cause of congenital TB in new-born babies.

 

Patient 116/1947 was a 13 year old boy, admitted to the sanatorium on 23 September 1947, and diagnosed with genitourinary tuberculosis.  He had been suffering from a range of medical problems for the past three years, having had a perinephric and a subnephric abscess in December 1944, which was treated with penicillin, and in July 1945 he had a right nephrectomy where the kidney that was removed was found to be tuberculous.  Three months later in October 1945 he returned to the hospital with a right sided epididymitis and again in January 1946 reporting a history of a right sided scrotal abscess which had discharged and healed leaving some thickening at which point haematuria was noted.  He was admitted to hospital again in September 1946 in connection with the right sided epididymitis.

 

As early as February 1946 it was recommended that he be admitted to a sanatorium and correspondence between the local authorities and Stannington Sanatorium shows that the Administrative Officer of Cumberland County Council was persistent in his attempts to have the boy admitted only to be told by the sanatorium’s Medical Superintendent that there were currently no beds and they were waiting for a suitable side ward to accommodate him.  On his eventual admission he complained of a dull aching pain on the left side of his abdomen, had recently complained of pain on micturition (urination), and was also urinating very frequently, particularly at night.  There was no blood or albumen in the urine at this point, no tenderness felt on the left side of the abdomen, and a small hard nodule about the size of pea was seen in the left epididymis.  His general condition throughout his stay was deemed to be good and chest x-rays were clear of any signs of tuberculosis.

 

It was decided that given his strong symptoms further investigations of the renal tract were necessary for which he would have to be sent to the RVI in Newcastle as the Sanatorium did not have the required facilities.  Described in his notes as “a perfect nuisance on the ward”, it was decided that he should be sent home to wait for a bed at the RVI.  He was discharged on 19 December 1947.

This Week in World War One, 30 April 1915

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Berwick Advertiser title 1915

 

 

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 30 APRIL 1915

 

WOOLER

 

Red Cross- Lady Boyle has acknowledged, having received a box of bandages, dressings, clothing and chocolate from the Wooler Women’s Voluntary Aid Detachment for Red Cross Hospitals in Serbia. Mrs Tower Robertson, Berwick, has acknowledged another parcel of comforts for soldiers from the members of the Wooler Girl’s Friendly Society.

 

The Local Territorials
BRO 2098-002 Image from Berwick Record Office: Northumberland Fusilier Camp at Greystoke: 7th Northumberland Fusiliers June 1914
BRO 2098-002 Image from Berwick Record Office: Northumberland Fusilier Camp at Greystoke: 7th Northumberland Fusiliers June 1914

The Local Territorials attached to the 7th Northumberland’s left for an unknown destination last week. Letters have been received, from which it appears they have arrived safely in France, and will no doubt find themselves in the fighting line before long. Let us hope that they will render a good account of themselves, and uphold the honour of Northumberland, returning safe home when the Huns have been satisfactorily disposed of, and that complete victory may crown the efforts of the Allies and that this may be speedily accomplished will be the fervent wish of all.

 

FIRST CASUALITY (sic) IN THE 7th N.F.
Berwick Territorials Wounded.

 

More casualties were reported on Thursday amongst the local troops who left the North about a week ago, and took part in the battle of Ypres soon after they arrived at the front.

We learn that the Northumberland Territorials have taken an active part in the fighting, and amongst the battalions engaged were the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers, the 5th 7th and 8th Battalions of the Durham Light Infantry, and the 4th Yorkshire Territorials.

From word received from the front in Berwick on Wednesday, it is quite evident that the Berwick companies of the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers, have received their baptism of fire. Mrs Egan, 23 Church Street, Berwick, has received a field postcard from her son, Private H. S. Egan, No. 1 Company, 7th N.F., saying that he was wounded and in hospital. Private Egan is a son of the late Sergeant James Egan, Royal Field Artillery, who, after twenty years’ service in the Army, came to reside in Berwick. Mrs Buglass, 35 Church Street, Berwick, has also received a postcard from her son, Corporal James Buglass, No. 1 Company, 7th N.F., saying he is wounded and in hospital. The 7th N.F. left for the front a week past Tuesday, and have been put into action very soon.

Royal Northumberland Fusiliers badge
Royal Northumberland Fusiliers badge

Since writing the above information has been received by Mrs Davidson, 37 Dock View, Tweedmouth, that her oldest son, Pte. A. Davidson, 7th N.F., has been wounded. Mrs Davidson’s second son, Pte. T. Davidson, is also serving in the same regiment. Mrs Waite, 9 Tweedside Terrace, Tweedmouth, has also received information that her son, Pte. Thomas Waite, has been wounded in the leg. Pte. Waite was employed in the office of Mr H. R. Peters, solicitor, Berwick, before the outbreak of war.

Sir E. Grey’s Cousin in Solitary Confinement

 

Amongst the British officers who have been placed in prison in solitary confinement by the Germans, as a reprisal for the treatment of the German submarine crews, is Captain Robin Grey, who is a cousin of Sir Edward Grey, and was formerly Conservative candidate for the Bishop Auckland Division. He was reported as missing in October, and a prisoner at Torgau in November. He was decorated in September with the Legion of Honour for distinguished service in the field.

Map locating Torgau, World War One http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I_prisoners_of_war_in_Germanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I_prisoners_of_war_in_Germany
Map locating Torgau, World War One http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I_prisoners_of_war_in_Germany

Another officer who has been placed in solitary confinement is Lieut. Alaistair Robertson, Gordon Highlanders, son of Mr W. Robertson, Cheltenham. Lieut. Robertson is nephew of Major Tower Robertson, Tweedmouth, and of Miss A. Henderson, Ravensdowne, Berwick. He was twenty-two years of age on the day he was arrested.

WWII And The Move To Hexham Hydro

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Yesterday the Stannington Sanatorium Project team took a trip to Hexham Hydro, now the Queen Elizabeth High School, to have a look around the building and the grounds as the children from Stannington Sanatorium were moved down to Hexham during WWII as it was deemed to be safer.  After visiting it is easy to see why the Hydro building was chosen by the Sanatorium Committee as it is in beautiful surroundings with views over to Hexham Abbey and the large open rooms making it ideal for the sanatorium’s needs.  The building also has its own walled garden, still well looked after and in use today by the school’s students, with evidence that the sanatorium patients grew produce there which they then went on to sell to local businesses in Hexham.  The Hydro building began life as a private house built in 1859 and known as Westfield House, but was later purchased by the Tynedale Hydropathic Establishment Company and alterations were made so that it could open in 1879 as the Tynedale Hydropathic Hotel.  Over the years additions were made including the large glass Winter Gardens, which would have been used by the sanatorium patients, and many famous clientele reportedly visited including Charlie Chaplin and Ramsay MacDonald. The Hotel eventually went into decline allowing it be used by the sanatorium during the war years as well as acting as a army billet and services bakery.

 

Read more below to see how WWII affected Stannington:

 

WWII broke out on 1 September 1939 with the UK officially entering the war 2 days later on 3 September.  Comments made by the matron in the annual report for 1939 highlight the immediate affects the war had on the Sanatorium:

 “…So rapid has been the growth of the Sanatorium that almost every year there has been some change in the structure or equipment to report, but all the changes have been for the securing of that first high ideal – the stamping out of tuberculosis in children.

Now war has come and much has changed.  At any moment a great strain may be put upon our hospitals, and we have had to open wide our doors and be ready to receive 218 adult patients in addition to our own 311 children.  We already have over 100 adult patients in residence, and among them are a number of men of the forces who either from accident or sickness require medical attention.” [HOSP/STAN/1/3/6]

The encroachment on space that the sanatorium had taken for granted for so many years was felt by all.  In the same year the school was evicted from its buildings to make way for beds and lessons were initially undertaken outside on the verandahs until more suitable accommodation was found in the small side wards.

 

Like people across the country the staff and patients contributed to the war efforts despite the illness faced by the children and additional pressures on the staff.  In 1940 the schoolchildren knitted over 100 woollen comforts for soldiers and 3 large blankets and together staff, children, and friends of the sanatorium raised £352, 17, 1 for the War Savings Scheme as well as additional monies for the Finland Fund, Lord Mayor’s Air-Raid Distress Fund, and the Greek Relief Fund.

 

After managing to continue operations for nearly two years at Stannington it was decided in 1941 that it was necessary to evacuate the children to a safer place.  The Hydro at Hexham was eventually settled on and over 200 children were moved on 11 August.  The Hydro lacked the vernadahs that were so common in Stannington for open-air treatment but was seen to be a suitable location owing to its lofty rooms, large windows, and beautiful surroundings.  The capacity at Hexham was significantly less than the facilities at Stannington and so the number of patients treated during the war years declined.

 

It was not until January 1945 that patients and staff were able to return to Stannington on a permanent basis.  Whilst early reports of the sanatorium’s time at Hexham appeared positive it is clear that by 1944 and continuing into the post-war years, the stress of the move and in particular shortages of nursing and domestic staff took its toll on the whole operation.  The 1944 annual report describes how that due to this the full operation of the sanatorium was prevented and consequently the number of patients treated was reduced further still following the initial curtailment felt following the move to Hexham.

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