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never recognised what the government of London was. It was
different to that of a provincial town, but this was not recognised,
and as a consequence they had to contend with many difficulties.
London had at its disposal, practically immediately, 1,000 beds
for the proper treatment of tuberculosis, with admirable institutions,
admirably officered, and administered by experts. But
London was debarred from accepting that advantage by this
unfortunate clause in the Act. It was face to face with the
possibility of an enormous and wasteful expenditure.
We saw in the papers of September 24th, what was
apparently an official statement, according to which 60 applications
had been received and 31 dealt with. It was suggested
to the board that it was a positive scandal, so far as London
was concerned, that after the lapse of months only 30 persons
should be receiving treatment, whilst they were ready and
willing and able to place those 1,000 beds at the disposal of
the authorities, but were precluded from doing so by this
unfortunate clause. The origin of that board was of a Poor
Law character, but its work had so increased that they now
occupied the position of a joint hospital board, and provided
accommodation for the 28 boroughs and the City Corporation,
not for pauper cases alone, but for all classes.
Following on this it is interesting to learn that it was
reported at the meeting of the London County Council, on
October 23rd, that the following letter had been received from
the Local Government Board with reference to the provision
of accommodation for patients entitled to sanatorium benefit
under the National Insurance Act:-
Sir,—I am directed by the Local Government Board
to inform you that the Government have under consideration
the arrangements which should be made in
London for the provision of sanatoria and other residential
institutions for the treatment of persons suffering from
tuberculosis.