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boarding-out of children under the County of London (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1930. The
abolition of assessments towards the cost of residential treatment has allowed the care committee
to devote more time to the task for which they were originally established.
The committee meet at the town hall, and their meetings are well attended.
Arrangements for Finding Employment.
The difficulties of a care committee in securing work for persons whose physical capacity is
limited will be readily appreciated, but every effort is made in this matter.
In some instances the intervention of the tuberculosis care committee has induced employers to
hold open the positions of men about to undergo sanatorium treatment.
Handicrafts Class.
A class for glove making was started in October, 1931. Meetings are held weekly at the
Paddington tuberculosis dispensary, No. 20, Talbot Road. The class has been continued throughout
1934, and at the end of the year three patients from Kensington were in regular attendance and a
favourable report of their work was received. There are at present a few vacancies in the class.
The Kensington borough council disinfect all gloves made by exposing them to formalin
vapour, which has been shown by experiment to be effective as a sterilizer without injuring the
texture or colour of the gloves.
Provision of Shelters at the Homes of Patients.
The council are prepared to loan shelters and they keep several in readiness at their Wood Lane
depot, but at the present time none is in use.
Provision of Bedding for Home Isolation.
At the present time there are 15 patients to whom bedsteads and bedding are being loaned.
In six of these the assistance was given for the first time during the past 12 months, the articles
issued being as follows :—
Bedsteads 5 Mattresses 6
Bolsters 0 Pillows 12
Pillow-slips 17 Sheets 20
Blankets 12 Quilts 8
Mattress covers 6
The total stock of bedding, etc., on loan on 31st December, 1934, was :—
Bedsteads 11 Mattresses 15
Bolsters 0 Pillows 29
Pillow slips 35 Sheets 45
Blankets 31 Quilts 15
Mattress covers 15
Disinfection after Death or Removal to Hospital.
In all cases after death from tuberculosis the council offer disinfection. This offer is also
extended when patients enter hospitals or sanatoria and when they change their residence.
Disinfection is also carried out upon request by the tuberculosis officer or private practitioners.
The following table shows the number of disinfections carried out during the year:—
Cases where bedding, etc., was disinfected by steam
190
Number of rooms disinfected
214
Bacteriological Examinations.
Specimens of sputum submitted by medical practitioners for bacteriological examination at the
cpense of the council:—
Examined at the council's laboratory 313
Examined by the tuberculosis officer 405
Sputum Flasks.
These are supplied to patients who are infectious, and advice is given in regard to the disposal
of sputum.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
JAMES FENTON,
Medical Officer of Health.