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The Financial Circumstances of 454 Patients Notified as Suffering
from Tuberculosis in Camberwell ( Primary Notifications, 1925).
If poverty is a contributory cause to the breakdown in health
known as tuberculosis it seems clearly evident that while the
patient is on domiciliary treatment the relief of the poverty
should be regarded as an integral factor in restoring the lost
health. Further, a Tuberculosis Officer should not consider he is
capable of laying down a sound or proper line of treatment unless
he has a knowledge of the financial circumstances of the patient.
In 135 cases the financial circumstances could not be blamed
for the breakdown. In 184 cases the financial circumstances
were on the border line or just above it. In the majority of cases
they were probably not contributory factors in any special degree
in the breakdown. However, an open mind had to be kept and
circumstances frequently reviewed. In 135 cases the financial
circumstances were frankly bad. These are first enquiries, and
were made within a week or two of the primary notifications, and
cannot be assumed to be parallel with the financial position of
patients—say one year after the notification.
The Day Sanatorium, 6, Grove Hill Road.
Managing Committee (appointed by the London County Council):
Mrs. Hugh Dal ton, L.C.C.
T. Gautrey, Esq., J.P.
The Hon. Mrs. Gilbert Johnstone.
The Countess de Lormet.
Mrs. Morrogh.
Mrs. Townsend.
Mrs. P. Worsthorne, L.C.C.
Teacher in Charge Mrs. K. L. Glover.
Medical Officer William Brand, 8.A., M.8., C.M.
Visiting Nurses Miss H. Chambers, Miss M. Thistleton, and Miss
F. M. Whitney.
This open-air school for non-infectious tuberculous children
is now in the tenth year of its existence. It is of interest to note
that two members of the present Managing Committee were
chiefly instrumental in founding the school. Mrs. Morrogh, at
that time Hon. Secretary of Camberwell Tuberculosis Dispensary,
after searching all over Camberwell, discovered No. 6, Grove
Hill Koad, with its ideal garden, for the purposes of an open-air
school. Mrs. Townsend and Mrs. Morrogh collected the greater
part of the money required during the first four years of the
school's existence. Nearly all the former pupils have got on well
since they passed from school to business. The following statistics
of 1925 may be given:—
Number on roll on December 31st, 1925 ... ... ... 30
Number admitted during 1925 13
Number discharged during 1925 -