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by some form of arc lamp, as he said that this was more like the
sun. He added, however, that this should not be done in a dark
room, but in the open air, so that the Sun Cure could be combined
with what is known as the ordinary open-air treatment.
The following classes of patients could be treated by one or
both of these methods :—
1. Pre-tuberculous cases. There is a large number of cases in
Bermondsey which come under this designation. They have been
generally examined by the Tuberculosis Officer as contacts, and
although they seem frail and delicate, and possess many symptoms
which makes one suspect Tuberculosis, no definite evidence of the
actual disease can be found. It is these cases which very often
after a year or two present definite symptoms of Tuberculosis, and
if they could be got hold of for treatment, if it was only once or
twice a week for a few hours, they might be prevented from getting
the disease. Dr. Connan, the Tuberculosis Officer, estimates the
number of these persons as about 500 a year. The class, of course,
includes both children and adults, but the majority are children.
2. Sanatorium Benefit. About 200 patients per annum belonging
to Bermondsey are treated in the various Sanatoria in the
country, and when these come back to Bermondsey, the large majority
relapse unless they can get some kind of continuation treatment.
This has previously been found an almost insuperable difficulty,
as only a few cases obtain suitable work in the open air which will
prevent them relapsing. There is no question that could these
cases be taken in hand, and given a few hours' treatment every
week, we could reduce considerably, if not prevent, relapses.
This question of the after-care of Tuberculosis cases, whether
Pulmonary or Surgical, has been one of the great difficulties in
dealing with this disease in England and elsewhere, and the suggestion
made here, while not completely solving it, may go a long way
towards doing so.