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3. Provision should also be made for advanced cases who arc
too ill to move into the country, and for whom hospital
accommodation is necessary in the district. At the present
time such patients too frequently die in the Workhouse as
paupars.
The position of sanitary authorities in relation to tuberculosis has
been modified by the Finance Act, 1911, and the National Insurance
Act. Under the former a sum of a million and a half is made available
for grants in aid to " sanatoria and other institutions for the treatment
of tuberculosis." This sum must be " apportioned between England,
Scotland, Ireland, and Wales in proportion to their respective populations
ascertained in accordance with the returns of the census taken in the
year 1911," but it is not provided that the apportionment between the
localities of the country shall be according to population. If the amount
were so apportioned, which is not at all probable, the sum available for
Ilampstead would be £2836.
The Insurance Act enables an Insurance Committee to agree " with
any person or authority (other than a Poor Law Authority) that in
consideration of the person or authority providing treatment in a
sanatorium or other institution or otherwise for persons recommended by
the Committee for sanatorium benefit, the Committee will contribute
out of the funds available for sanatorium benefit towards the maintenance
of the institution or provision of such treatment, such annual or other
payment ... as may be agreed."
I am unable to make anything like a precise estimate of the
number of persons coming within the opci'ation of the Act in Ilampstead,
for the Census returns for 1911 are not yet available, and it should
be borne in mind that the Insurance Commissioners may extend
sanatorium benefit to the dependents of insured persons.
The question of the measures to be taken for the control of t uberculosis
is, at the time of writing, under consideration by the Public Health
Committee, who have deferred making any recommendations until the
appearance of the report of the Advisory Committee appointed by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer to consider the whole question of the
control of tuberculosis, including the administration of the sanatoriun.
benefit.