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173
3. Provision of Extra Nourishment.
The Borough Council provides extra nourishment for certain
types of tuberculous cases. This usually consists of milk and eggs.
One hundred and ten persons were granted extra nourishment
during the year. Where patients are already receiving help from
the Public Assistance Committee, however, extra nourishment is
supplied by that body on the recommendation of the Tuberculosis
Officer.
The Council decided that unless specially recommended for
a shorter period, all grants should normally be made for a period
of three months. Such grants to expire at the end of each quarter.
This procedure has simplified the giving of grants; all cases are
considered before the expiry of each quarter by the Tuberculosis
Officer and the necessary recommendations made.
The Council has had under consideration the class of patient
to whom grants can most usefully be made and the following types
of case have been assisted in this way where the patient's finances
appeared insufficient:—
(1) Patients who have received an adequate course of
sanatorium treatment and whose medical condition is such
that with the grant of extra nourishment they may be
expected to maintain or recover full working capacity.
(2) Patients in whose cases ultimate arrest of the disease may
reasonably be anticipated and who are waiting for
admission to a sanatorium.
(3) Quiescent or arrested cases in young adults where there
appears to be a particular danger of recrudescence of the
disease if food conditions are not maintained, and
especially during periods of added strain such as when
starting work.
(4) Chronic cases where no permanent improvement is likely
and yet are able to maintain a condition in which they
are not an actual burden to others but need every help
possible to preserve that degree of health which is left
to them.