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35
7. The provision of outdoor shelters in suitable cases.
8. The supply of pocket sputum flasks, if necessary.
9. The distribution of literature for the guidance of
Consumptives.
10. The organisation, as far as possible, of voluntary
helpers who would assist cases in need of extra food, clothing
or other help—e.g., keep the family going for a short period
if the bread winner was removed to Hospital for a few weeks.
One important difficulty with regard to Consumption, and
one which treatment at a dispensary is calculated to surmount, is
that Consumption is a disease of gradual onset, and a working
man will not seek advice on the occurrence of the early symptoms
which are apparently trivial, usually on account of the expense.
And then, when he does seek advice, the disease is often too far
advanced for a cure to be effected or he finds himself unable
to enter a Sanatorium in case he loses his job. A Tuberculosis
Dispensary obviates this difficulty, as there advice would be free
to all, and tuberculin treatment can be carried out while the usual
employment is followed.
Cost. Establishment.—The cost of establishment of a
Tuberculosis Dispensary would be small—about £50.
Annual Charges.—The annual expenditure would consist in
the charges for drugs and medical services, which I estimate
would be about £350.
When this relatively small cost per annum for the efficient
treatment of Consumption within the district is balanced against
£7,400 per annum, which is the calculated miniumum loss attributable
to consumption, the investment must be considered sound, and
the expenditure justifiable.
It has also to be noted that during the year a sum of more
than £1273 was spent on the cure and prevention of Scarlet Fever,
Diphtheria and Typhoid Fever in connection with 95 cases, with
9 deaths, and yet nothing was spent in dealing with an estimated
number of 300 cases of consumption with 46 deaths during the
year 1911.