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196
There is no immediately practical measure that can be
compared with this in its promise of a material reduction in
the disease.
It is also of primary importance to provide for visitations to
the homes of sufferers by a skilled person, such as the Tuberculosis
Medical Officer, in order to get hold of cases earlier than is otherwise
possible. And thus to reduce as far as practicable the present large
expenditure of time and money upon cases in which the disease is
so far advanced that little more than a temporary "patching up"
can be hoped for. Unless more treatment can be applied at the
outset it is a question whether the present benefits to the community
are commensurate with the heavy cost of obtaining them. The
situation, therefore, demands that the Tuberculosis Medical Officer
must keep in the closest possible contact with the general practitioners
and the homes. A further provision which can be of considerable
value is an After-Care Committee, who will interest themselves
in and assist those who have undergone treatment, in obtaining
suitable employment and suitable housing; for so many persons
rapidly lose the benefit of their sanatorium or other treatment on
returning to their former conditions.
THE WORK OF THE TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY IN
1916 IN REFERENCE TO STOKE NEWINGTON.
The Dispensary was finally inspected by Dr. Chapman, Medical
Inspector, Local Government Board, and was first opened for
patients on July 28th, 1915. Dr. Henry 0. West, M.D., M.R.C.P.,
London, is the Medical Officer in charge.
The following tables show the work done in connection with
the Dispensary, so far as Stoke Newington is concerned, during
the year 1916:—