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39
It is noteworthy that 50, or 38 per cent., of those
notified from the dispensary were children under ten
years of age, while of those notified as definitely phthisical
from other sources, only 5 per cent. were children of this
age. The importance of the detection of these early
cases, which in the past have been largely overlooked,
cannot be overestimated, as although tuberculosis has
hitherto been considered especially a disease of adolescence
and early maturity, there is now a mass of
evidence showing that its presence in childhood is very
common, and that in a large proportion of cases its active
manifestation in later years is the result of the lightingup
of an infection which has existed in the system for a
long time.
Sanatorium Accommodation.
An important step in dealing with tuberculosis has
been recently taken by the Council by their decision to
retain from April 1st, 1912, six beds at the National
Sanatorium, Benenden, Kent, for the use of persons
residing in the borough suffering from tuberculosis, at a
yearly cost of £78 per bed.
Open¬Air Shelters.
The Council have also provided two portable shelters
for use in backyards or gardens. These can be used for
more or less advanced cases to lessen the risk of infection,
for the treatment of early cases which cannot be
sent to a sanatorium, or for the continuation of sanatorium
treatment at home; and their more extended use
should be of great value in the treatment of tuberculosis.
Spitting bottles, paper handkerchiefs and disinfectants
are also supplied by the Council to sufferers from
phthisis who are in poor circumstances.
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