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79
artificial sunlight is recommended. One case of Bazin's disease (tuberculous ulceration
of the legs) was so recommended during the year and attended the London
Hospital for 31 treatments.
Residential Treatment for tuberculosis in all forms is ordinarily provided by the
London County Council and the treatment is free. A few cases suffering from
advanced and incurable disease who are unwilling to go into the County Council's
general hospitals are sent through voluntary agencies to Homes for the Dying.
Boarding-out of Child Contacts : When for one reason or another pulmonary cases
with positive sputum have to remain at or return home, it is sometimes advisable—
especially if the home circumstances are poor—to arrange for the boarding out of
child contacts in order to minimise the risk of infection, until suitable steps have been
taken to improve the home conditions. Such arrangements are made, free of charge
to the family, by the County Council, who will also arrange for the care of children
if the mother has to go away to sanatorium and there are no relatives in a position
to look after them.
Convalescence for non-tuberculous but ailing children is usually arranged through
the Invalid Children's Aid Association. Nursing for bed-ridden patients is provided
by the Shoreditch and Bethnal Green Nursing Association, the Borough Council
paying Is. 4d. a visit.
Cases of social, economic, or domestic difficulty are referred to the Tuberculosis
Care Committee (appointed by the Shoreditch Borough Council). Assistance in the
way of extra nourishment and the provision of separate beds or of garden shelters is
given to a number of patients on the recommendation of the Tuberculosis Officer,
the cost being met by the Borough Council. There has been a considerable increase
in the number of patients who needed extra nourishment: 113 were helped in this
way during the year and 57 were receiving these extras on Dec. 31st, 1937. Patients
in receipt of relief from the Public Assistance Committee are recommended to that
body for extra nourishment, which is usually granted on the certificate of the Tuberculosis
Officer. Similarly patients dependent upon the Unemployment Assistance
Board are referred to the Board but there has been some difficulty from time to time
in getting the Board to accept responsibility.
The number of shelters (lent by the Borough Council) in use during the year was
2, and the number of patients to whom beds and/or bedding were on loan was 25.
Prophit Trust Research Scheme : Under this scheme special investigation is being
made into the incidence of tuberculosis in contacts between the ages of 15 and 25.
Shoreditch contacts belonging to this age-group are examined by Dr. Ridehalgh, the
Research Scholar appointed by the Royal College of Physicians under the auspices
of the Trust, and a special evening session is held for this purpose approximately
every six weeks. The investigation includes radiological and tuberculin tests and the
cost is borne by the Prophit Trust.