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90 Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
is to keep in close touch with those suffering from the disease and
to endeavour to relieve poverty and to improve social conditions,
both of which have such an important bearing on the course of
disease. The provision of sufficient food and suitable employment
for those able to work, are two very important factors which have
to be dealt with.
This work entails much home visiting and the furnishing of
frequent reports. In order to deal with the assessments and the
routine reports required by the various authorities and hospitals
concerned with the patients' treatment, two Sub-Committees have
been formed, one for Clapham, Balham, Tooting, and Streatham,
and the other for Putney and Wandsworth. During the year 100
cases for assessment were dealt with, and 281 reports were made
to the Insurance Committee, County Council, Hospitals and the
Dispensaries.
The main Committee deals with matters of policy, cases of
difficulty arising at the Sub-Committees, and, chiefly, with the
many cases who are in need of extra nourishment, or for whom
suitable employment is required. This subject bristles with
difficulties and it remains to be seen whether such' a Committee
can do any lasting good with no after-care fund, and with no
provision made for finding special employment for the tubercular.
During the year 6 patients were given assistance which enabled
them to take suitable employment, which is a very small proportion
of those who are in need of this sort of assistance.
The summary of the results of treatment since the opening of
the Dispensaries in 1913, is still being carried out, but the results
are not yet sufficiently complete to record.
On 24th December the Wandsworth Dispensary moved from
No. 129, East Hill, to No. 96.