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Included in the above Table is one negative result obtained from the examinations of a sample
of milk which had caused violent attacks of diarrhoea in 3 adult members of the same household.
TREATMENT OF DISEASE.
Under Section 77 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, the Council may, with the sanction
of the Local Government Board, provide or contract with any person to provide a temporary supply
of medicines and medical assistance for the poorer inhabitants of their district. In pursuance of
these powers and the Board's Anti-toxin Order, diphtheria anti-toxin is supplied by the Council free
of charge, and a fee of 5s. is paid to any medical practitioner who administers the Council's antitoxin
to a poor person suffering or suspected to be suffering from diphtheria. Two patients and
two suspects were treated at the Council's expense during the year. An annual subscription of
£5 5s. is also paid by the Council to the Kensington District Nursing Association in recognition
of their services in rendering temporary medical assistance through their nurses to the sick poor,
and particularly to infants suffering from ophthalmia.
As a good deal of misapprehension exists in regard to the Council's powers to provide treatment,
it should be noted first that the above powers are permissive and not obligatory, secondly that
they can only be exercised with the sanction of the Board, and thirdly, that the assistance given can
only be temporary. There are no powers under which the Council can provide and pay for
permanent medical attendance upon poor patients in their homes, as for instance non-insured
consumptives who are too ill to attend a dispensary. Full provision can, however, be made for
such persons by the Guardians through the District Medical Officer in any case where the patient is
destitute in the sense that he cannot pay for the treatment his case requires.
Section 75 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, empowers the Council to provide hospitals
or contract for the use of any part of a hospital for the inhabitants of their district. It is under
this Section that the Council propose to contract with the Brompton Hospital and the North
Kensington Dispensary for the dispensary treatment of non-insured consumptives, and already
subscribe to the following institutions:—
£ s. d.
Brompton Hospital 10 10 0
West London Hospital 5 5 0
Kensington General Hospital 5 5 0
St. Mary's Hospital 5 5 0
Chelsea Hospital for Women 5 5 0
Paddington Green Children's Hospital 5 5 0
Kensington Dispensary and Children's Hospital 5 5 0
Kensington District Nursing Association 550
Kensal Gospel and Medical Mission 5 5 0
£52 10 0
The subscription to the Kensington District Nursing Association is paid under Section 77.