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47
The scheme as outlined by the Departmental Committee
should consist of two units linked up to the general public health
and medical work now carried on and working in harmony with
the general practitioners. The first unit consists of the Tuberculosis
Dispensary, or clinic; the second unit consists of institutions
in which in-patient treatment is given.
It may be of interest here, to mention the various bodies
concerned with the cure and prevention and treatment of tuberculosis.
These are the Sanitary Authority, the Poor Law
Authority, the Education Authority, the County Council and the
Local Government Board. Each of these bodies carries on
important work in combatting the disease, both from the treatment
and prevention standpoints. Their numbers have now been reinforced
by. another body, the Insurance Committee, whose duties
are concerned inter alia with the treatment of insured persons
under the provisions of the; National Insurance Act.
The functions of all these bodies are more or less co-related
in dealing with tuberculosis, and in considering a co-ordinate and
comprehensive scheme, it is essential, if success in eradicating
the disease is to be attained, that they should be linked up with
the other agencies working in the same direction, e.g., the
Medical Practioners' Philanthropic bodies, etc. Poor Law
Institutions are not available for insured persons under the
"Sanatorium Benefit" of the National Insurance Act.