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to ensure that every person suffering from
or suspected to be suffering from tuberculosis
receives treatment. A certain number
of cases are treated at the Dispensary,
but the majority are referred to private
doctors or sent to hospitals or sanatoria.
(3) Prevention.—The primary responsibility of
the Dispensary is the prevention of tuberculosis,
and for this reason the Dispensary
has become part of the Public Health
Department of the Borough Council. The
chief object of visiting the advanced cases
in their homes is to prevent the spread
of the disease; the treatment of these
cases is carried out by private doctors.
The Dispensary endeavours to keep in
touch with all notified cases, and few cases
are lost sight of; with this object the
following-up system recommended by the
Health Ministry and the London County
Council is in operation. Undue interference
with the rights of people in their
homes is to be avoided, and compulsion
in any form is unwarranted and, indeed,
is bad policy.
(4) The Dispensary acts as an information
bureau in relation to tuberculosis, and
careful records are kept of all work done.
The Care Committee.—The economic and social
aspect of dispensary work is the special province of
the Care Committee. This Committee was taken
over from the London County Council by the Borough
Council during 1923 ; it is an essential part of dispensary
organisation, and not a mere side issue. It
consists of members of the Borough Council and coopted
members having special experience of Welfare
Work.
Cases of tuberculosis notified to the Medical Officer
of Health are visited by the Dispensary Nurses, and