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In applying these figures to the number of tuberculous
patients on the current Notification Register of the Borough the
reader should be told that many cases on the Register are in no
wise incapacitated by their tuberculosis, and might, indeed, be
removed from that register did they conform with the instructions
of the Ministry of Health on one point. A case of pulmonary
tuberculosis cannot be removed from the Register unless the
disease has been arrested for five years. A case of non-pulmonary
tuberculosis cannot be removed unless the disease has been
arrested for three years. Again, in a large number of cases the
breadwinners of the family are not the patients, and in such cases
the normal financial position of the family may not be affected by
reason of the tuberculosis. Another point of importance in connection
with the question under consideration is the fact that
there may be two or more cases of tuberculosis in one family or
in one house, thus lessening the time required to ascertain family
needs. Lastly, the Dispensary has a street index, and this is an
immense saving of time.
2. How much care work did the Tuberculosis Dispensary
staff accomplish in 1925? No one, I feel sure, will refute the
suggestion that many of the finer parts of care work cannot be
recorded. The acts of courtesy, sympathy, and the other little
and. big things so cheering to the mind of the sick that patients
so often tell me about concerning other members of the staff
cannot be recorded individually or in figures.
The financial and environmental circumstances of nearly
every primary notification of 1925 were enquired into and considered—not
in the spirit of officials prying into the home secrets
of others but because we cannot know who are in need unless we
ask all. In 69 cases, from the failure of notification, the first
home visit was paid after the death of the patient. Enquiries
were made as to the health of the contacts of the deceased and
advice was given to any of the families in need as to whom and
where to apply for assistance. A surprisingly large number of
the families in which a case of tuberculosis was notified in 1925
were not in any need of assistance throughout the year. Many
others were receiving assistance from the Guardians and elsewhere
when we first got to know them—for assisting such we
cannot lay claim to any credit. In other cases we advised and
helped them to get assistance in various ways. In some cases
our efforts came to nought, but some of these families found the
assistance they required otherwise, e.g., by finding work, etc.
With regard to the cases notified in previous years we
endeavoured to keep in touch with them as often as was necessary.
Many of these were army pensioners, many others were self
supporting by their own efforts—indeed, many tuberculous people,
notified in former years, were supporting large families. Many