Oakwood Hall's success put great pressure on the X-ray equipment. The apparatus had been bought at a cost of £350 when the sanatorium first opened consequently the new X-ray apparatus was installed, the most up to date machine that would allow medical staff to experiment with what was thought to be a new and radical treatment. Artificial pneumothorax was hoped to bring a cure to this most cruel disease. Under strict medical supervision an operation to collapse a lung (medically known as artificial pneumothorax) could now occur with some patients. During the same year an ultra-violet ray apparatus was also installed. The 1930’s began with the installation of an X-ray Machine by the Solus Electrical Company. Great demand was placed on the old X-ray Machine and it was proving to be inadequate. So the new most modern machine was very welcome. The new X-ray machine was fitted with a special heavy screening stand, suitable for intensive examinations of the chest and an automatic time switch. Within the first six months 200 X-ray plates were taken and all gave complete satisfaction. The X-ray machine was expensive to run and maintain, so the hospital relied on money raised by members of the public. During that year a male voice choir held a concert in Clifton Park and raised £6 3s 6d. On a very cold dull October morning councillor Quibell organised a collection outside Rotherham United Football Ground at Millmoor this collection raised £56 19s 3d.
By 1931 with the help of the new X-ray machine artificial pneumothorax or control lung collapses became a more valued method of treatment. Within the first few months of the year out of 6 artificial pneumothorax 3 had shown good collapses. One case was abandoned and of the other two the collapses were to small to be classed as satisfactory.
As the X-ray machine was so up-to-date
other diseases, which had once been difficult to diagnose where being diagnosed after an
x-ray such as Chest infections and Asthma. Within the same year Mr John P Ridsdale kindly
donated two Ultra Violet Ray lamps. One lamp was a Jessionek Lamp, which was used for
general light baths. The other was a Kromanyer Lamp and was used for intensive Ultra
Violet Rays the installation of these lamps was on 31st July 1931 and they
continued to be used daily.
The Sanatorium continued to be an active training school for nurses. During the same year four nurses sat the final examination for the certificate of the Tuberculosis Association, all these were successful, one lady passed with honours. The hospital’s 100 beds were now full. The patients were under the staffing care of 1 matron, 1 deputy matron, 3 sisters, 2 staff nurses, 9 probationer nurses, 1 assistant gardener, 1 head porter, 1 assistant porter and 1 handyman. The staff were reported to be very dedicated to their jobs and were prepared to work long hours. The staff all worked within the pleasant surroundings of the 6634 acres. The sanatorium was impressive with 3 treatment blocks, an administration block another block which included a classroom, dinning room, and scout rooms. On the nearby land was the Medical Officers house, a lodge occupied by the head gardener and adjoining semi-detached villas of which a porter occupied one and night staff another. The boy scouts movement was now flourishing. The children were now making items such as baskets, trays and mats. Over 200 articles were sold during the past year to patients and their visitors, staff, and families. No profit from these items was made only money to cover the cost of manufacture.
© Neil and Janet Croft 2005