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of the work done has improved and a really high grade glove is turned out. A Sale was held
at the Dispensary in October, when just over £15 was taken in cash and sufficient orders
were taken to keep the class employed almost till Christmas.
It is worth recording that through the kindness of a friend an outing was arranged
for the class, who thoroughly enjoyed going to Kew Gardens, the return home being
accomplished by steamer.
Care Committee. I would like to thank the Chairman, Secretary and members of the
Care Committee for their valuable assistance during the year.
To illustrate the wide scope of assistance rendered by the Care Committee, the
Secretary, Miss Sargent, has kindly selected specimen cases which are here appended:
A. Is a married man with a wife and baby. The family lived in one furnished
room, the National Health Insurance benefit being supplemented by Public
Assistance. One baby had already died and the existing child was far from
robust, but it was most difficult to persuade the parents to allow her to be placed
under the care of Fulham Hospital until, at any rate, the family had obtained
two rooms. It was done, however, and after some searching two unfurnished
rooms were found and taken. The Public Assistance Committee increased their
grant to allow for extra rent, and provided beds and bedding. The Charity
Organisation Society were appealed to and, in co-operation with the Public
Assistance Committee, provided additional furniture, so that the young couple,
for the first time since they married, had a home of their own.
The child remained away for five months and has been under the care of
the Infant Welfare Centre since returning home.
A. is doing well, but so far has been unable to find suitable work, his own
trade (that of a shoe repairer) not being considered good for him, and he is
further handicapped through having one leg amputated owing to an accident
in boyhood.
B. Developed a tuberculous hip following a kick at football and was sent to
sanatorium, being discharged in 1934, aged 19. He was unfit for work but his
one desire was to study the violin. There were financial difficulties in the way:
his mother was a widow and application had to be made to the Public Assistance
Committee for maintenance for B. By April, 1935, he was considered strong
enough to undertake serious study, and the Care Committee arranged for him to
have violin lessons at the Trinity College for Music where he is getting on very
well indeed, though he had a temporary set-back and had to be re-admitted to
hospital during the summer for a few weeks. It is hoped that he may eventually
gain a scholarship, as his teacher states he has a real talent for music.
C. Was an advanced case of pulmonary tuberculosis when we first heard of her.
Her husband was in an asylum and she had been working to keep the home
together. The eldest child had started work by the time his mother fell ill, but
there were two girls of school age, both of whom were delicate and one of whom
attended an M.D. special school.
Relatives came forward to care for the children temporarily, but when C.
died in Hospital it was felt that some permanent arrangement must be made
and the children placed in residential schools. The Chairman of the Care
Committee undertook to visit and obtain the grandfather's consent to application
being made to the Public Assistance Committee, and the children are now in
schools under their care.
Bacteriological Department. Sputum, etc., examinations. Miss Robinson has carried out
in the laboratory 1,300 examinations for Tubercle Bacilli in sputa; whilst seven specimens of
freces and four of suspected urines have been specially cultured in addition. The amount of
other bacteriological work done has grown very much during the past few years, making this
department an increasingly important one.