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The figures demonstrate clearly the seriousness of the problem
which confronts us in our attempt to prevent the spread of tuberculosis.
Every effort is being made by the Medical Officer of
Health to provide fresh accommodation for the worst cases, but
the economic position of some of the families is a great stumbling
block to the improvement of their conditions. In families where
the father is thrown out of work by tuberculosis it may be many
years —often not until the children have become wage earners-
before better accommodation can be obtained, and those years
may add two or three new cases to the roll of tuberculous patients.
Much, however, can be done by home visiting on the part of
the Tuberculosis Officer and the dispensary nurses. Advice can
be given with regard to the alteration of existing accommodation
so that infective persons can be provided, where possible, with
a room, or at any rate a bed, to themselves. In suitable cases
the Tuberculosis Officer can ease the situation by the loan of
open-air shelters or of beds, and at the end of 1928 the number of
these on loan was—Shelters 26, Beds 55.
Stress has been laid in this survey on two points—the paucity
of early cases and the poor housing conditions. The problems
associated with tuberculosis are legion, but these two are of great
importance and both are to a large extent capable of mitigation,
if all parties concerned will co-operate whole-heartedly.
In conclusion, the writer would like to express his appreciation
of the help given by the Dispensary Staff, and by Mr. F. W.
Smith and by Mr. F. R. Parker, the former being responsible also
for the diagrammatic work."