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pute the good done solely by the numbers visited, you may be getting
an entirely false idea of the results of the work. The piling up of
visits for the sake of increasing the figures is an easy matter, but
health visiting cannot be compared to the visits of the postman or
even the sanitary inspector, because it is absolutely essential, if
their visits are to be of effect, that they get on friendly terms with
the mother and family, and this cannot be done by a purely formal
visit such as that of the sanitary inspector."
This last report was adjourned for consideration at the meeting
of the Committee on January 26th, 1916, when it was finally decided
that the whole subject was to be reconsidered in six months' time.
There the matter stands at present, and at the time of writing
it has not been before the Committee again.
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY.
During the year under report I assisted personally at the
Dispensary at the Monday night consultations. The experience
was very valuable, inasmuch as it gave me a clearer insight into the
problems which concern the practical administration of Tuberculosis
Dispensaries. Though the co-operation as usual between the
dispensary and ourselves was not sanctioned by formal agreement,
it was, nevertheless, very close. An agreement was drawn up
between ourselves and the dispensary authorities on the one hand
and the County Council on the other hand, but owing to various
delays, they were not finally settled till this year. From the
Dispensary Annual Report it seems that during the year there were
539 new patients examined; of these 327 were definitely suffering
from or suspected to be suffering from tuberculosis in some form.
The number of visits paid by patients to the dispensary was 8,973,
and the nunber of visits paid to the homes of patients was 622 by
the Medical Officer and 2,289 by the nurses.
Hairdressers and Barbers.
At the end of 1915 eleven barbers were in possession of certificates.