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77
From a careful perusal of this report I think everyone will
realise what a most important part this Institution is likely
to play in the immediate future in reference to the preventive
work of this Department. I think all who give this subject a careful
study from all points of view will realise that the preventive
side of this Institution is the phase of its working which
will most repay attention, for, whilst the curative side is being
worked, yet one realises that the chief aim and object is to prevent
the occurrence of fresh cases, and accordingly, as the preventive
part grows and develops, the evidence of its usefulness will be
seen in the decline of the curative part. When dealing with this
question from the preventive side one is very speedily brought
face to face with the fact that at the present time a great deal of
money, time and effort is being uselessly expended in endeavouring
to prevent the spread of this disease in poor families occupying
poverty-stricken homes and containing one or more members in
an advanced stage of this disease, who are in themselves, whilst
remaining in such conditions, very active centres for the spread of
the infection, and, in my opinion, as 1 have already on many
occasions.pointed out, much more definite steps should be taken
by the Poor Law Authority, or failing them, by some other
authority, to ensure that such cases are permanently taken care of
in what might be called " Homes of Rest." In this way it would
give a far greater chance of success for all the measures of prevention
that are exercised in connection with such families.
There is also the question, which is mentioned by Dr. Hill in
his report, which the Committee will remember was one of the
earliest suggestions made by your Medical Officer of Health in this
connection, namely, that a representative Committee should be
formed to provide for the after-care of persons who had sufficiently
recovered from an attack of this disease to enable them to obtain
suitable employment and live in more suitable surroundings than
those whence they had contracted the disease.
School Clinics, Health Centres and Infant Consultations.
We now have in Greenwich three separate Institutions of this
character, one being chiefly a School Clinic conducted by Miss.