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of 19. The patient herself developed the disease and though sent to
sanatorium continued to go downhill. The daughter tried hard to
earn enough for both but in spite of some help from a married
brother was not always able to do this. Extra nourishment was
obtained from the Town Hall and later on from the Charity Organisation
Society who also helped financially for a very considerable
period. Finally when the patient grew much worse this Society
obtained a bed for her in the Hostel of God where she was very
happy and well-cared for until the end, and they also sent the
daughter to the seaside for several weeks as a measure of prevention.
The latter is now happily employed and looking forward to being
married.
C.—Was a man with a wife and three children living in one
room. The Tuberculosis Officer applied to the Guardians to take
charge of the children, but this they declined to do unless the
patient would go into the Infirmary and this he steadily refused to
do. The doctor renewed the application pointing out the fear of
infection to the children and at last the Guardians rescinded their
decision and placed the children in their homes.
This is only one of the ways in which the Guardians have helped
us in the care of our consumptive families.
D.—Was a middle-aged woman absolutely without means or
relatives. She had kept herself by dressmaking but had gradually
been able to do less and less and finally had to part with her furniture
and go into the infirmary. From there she was to be transferred
to a sanatorium and when the case came before the Care Committee
they felt how miserable it would be for her to go away without a
penny in her pocket. Application was therefore made to the
Charity Organisation Society who discovered a fund for making
small grants to " Distressed Needlewomen without male Relatives "
and one of these was obtained for the patient. At the end of the
year she was still away in sanatorium.
E.—Was not a patient but had nursed her daughter for three
months from her discharge from hospital till her death and was
very tired out and run down in consequence. The Committee
referred her to the Charity Organisation Society who sent her
away for a period of convalescence from which she returned much
benefitted.
F.—Was a married woman with two children. When she had
to be sent to a sanatorium she made arrangements for the children
to be boarded out with friends for a weekly sum. During her
absence from home her husband's affairs went from bad to worse
and the Committee applied to the London County Council to give
the sanatorium treatment free of cost; this the Council at once
agreed to do.
A little later the husband found himself unable to continue
the weekly payments for the children's board and the Care Committee
were able to arrange with the United Services Fund to take
over the maintenance of the children. The family is now happily
re-united; the patient much improved and the husband again
employed.