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73
Residential Treatment.
There has been no financial obligation on the patients or their dependents in respect of residential
treatment provided by the London county council since 1934, and thus a large number of
patients are willing to participate in the benefits. In addition the number of beds available has
increased and the variety of hospitals, sanatoria and colonies has assisted in encouraging the patients
to remain for longer periods under treatment, this being essential even in the early stages of the
disease. Methods of treatment have also improved in recent years and all this has meant that fewer
patients are discharged in a condition which necessitates home nursing by persons not fully realising
the dangers of infection.

The nurses carry out their work splendidly and are very much appreciated.
Care Committee.
"Care work" may be said to refer to all that part of the anti-tuberculosis scheme which does
not deal directly with the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
In London, as in the country generally, the dividing line between care work under an official
scheme and care work done by voluntary committees varies considerably, but of recent years there
has been an increase in that part of the work which has come under the official scheme. For instance,
the London county council pay patients fares to and from sanatorium, provide clothing for patients
in sanatorium (where this cannot be obtained from voluntary sources), training and settlement in tuberculosis
colonies, and a scheme for boarding out of child contacts in order to allow mothers to accept
residential treatment or where the home conditions are unsatisfactory and there is a patient who
is a potential source of infection. The Kensington borough council provide extra nourishment,
dental treatment, beds and bedding, sputum flasks and paper handkerchiefs, etc. In addition
co-operation takes place between the clinical tuberculosis officer and the local officers of the public
assistance department and the unemployment assistance board, whereby patients can be recommended
for extra grants.
There has been a gradual growth up to the present scheme and during the year under review
the tuberculosis care committee which was established in 1922, taking into consideration the changes
that had taken place since its inception, was of the opinion that it had ceased to fulfil the purpose
for which it was originally intended and voted itself out of office. It was considered important to
maintain close co-operation with the principal charitable organisations in the area, and the borough
council requested the secretary of the Charity Organisation Society and the secretary of the Invalid
Children's Aid Association to act as official almoners for tuberculosis care work.
The two societies concerned not only consented to their secretaries performing this work, but
they gave the greatest possible assistance and co-operation in the tuberculosis care work of the
borough.
The care committee as at present constituted consists of the clinical tuberculosis officer, the two
secretaries of the above societies, the borough council's two tuberculosis health visitors, and the
committee secretary, who is a full-time officer at the council's tuberculosis dispensary; the committee
meets at fortnightly intervals. The arrangement has worked with the utmost smoothness and
greatly facilitates the care of tuberculous patients and their families.
General.
Eighty-seven per cent. of the cases of tuberculosis in Kensington are dealt with under the council's
scheme; 73 per cent. of those persons who came in close contact with cases of tuberculosis are
medically examined and, if necessary, supervised under the council's scheme; the proportion of
beds available in London county council hospitals, etc., for Kensington patients is 140 to every
100 deaths from this disease. These figures show that an efficient campaign against tuberculosis
is being conducted.
Public Health (Prevention of Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1925.
These regulations were introduced with a view to:—
(a) preventing persons suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis from entering upon an
occupation involving the handling of milk; and
(b) enabling local authorities, in proper cases and with suitable safeguards, to require
persons engaged in such occupation to discontinue their work when found to be
suffering from the disease in an infective stage.
During the year, no case occurred which required the attention of the council under the
regulations.