View report page

38
Prevention of Tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis Dispensary.
It is gratifying to record that the efforts which I
stated in my last report were being made to establish in
Fulham a tuberculosis dispensary, on the lines of the
Royal Victoria Dispensary for Consumption in Edinburgh,
proved successful and on November 1st the
Fulham Dispensary for the Prevention of Consumption
was opened at 632 Fulham Road. The Committee were
fortunate in securing the services of Dr. Waudby Griffin
as Medical Officer, and already the need for the institution
has been amply proved, and its work is full of
promise for the future benefit of the borough.
The essential features of the tuberculosis dispensary,
as outlined in my last report, may be briefly
repeated. Its functions are to examine patients and
classify them as far as possible so that each may secure
appropriate treatment, whether at home, in hospital, or
in sanatorium; to act in co¬operation with all charitable
and other organizations in the borough for the benefit of
the patient; to examine all persons living in close contact
with patients, which leads to the detection of cases,
otherwise neglected, at such an early stage of the disease
that it may be successfully treated; to visit the homes of
the patients, and in co¬operation with the sanitary
authority to amend any unhealthy condition of environment;
to act as an information bureau and educational
centre to which persons interested may turn for information
and guidance.
During November and December 202 patients attended
the dispensary, of whom 131 were found to be tuberculous
and were notified. 81 contacts were examined,
and 14 cases of phthisis discovered among them.