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72
Housing.—The Housing condition presents little improvement
and much overcrowding exists, many examples continue to
be brought to the notice of the Public Health Committee by
the Care Committee. It follows that the sleeping arrangements
continue to be a very serious difficulty in the problems of infection.
Of 208 patients suffering from Pulmonary Tuberculosis :
115 were sharing a bed.
55 had a separate bed but not a separate room.
38 had a separate room and a separate bed.
As a result of much persuasion and perseverance on the
part of the Tuberculosis nurses and the Care Committee, 4
patients who were sharing a bed have now separate beds, and 1
patient who shared a bed with three others, has had his sleeping
arrangements so altered as to have only one partner; not an
ideal arrangement, but the best that could be done under the
circumstances, and a great improvement on the original state
as found by the nurses.
Apart from overcrowding, many sanitary defects have been
reported to and dealt with by the Public Health Department.
The eight shelters are in constant use. Bedsteads and
bedding have been lent or supplied by the Council and other
agencies. (See Report of Care Committee).

Dealing with the Dispensary itself, 716 new patiients
were examined during the year. The sources from which these
patients came were as follow:—
Doctors 249
Hospitals 15
School Medical Service 28
Ministry of Pensions 1
Own Application 74
Nurses (Contacts) 349
Contacts.—Much of the nurses' time is spent endeavouring
to secure the examination of every contact. This year, out of a
total of 564 contacts, 374 were examined, or almost 67 per
cent., of whom 33 were found to be tuberculous, and 11 doubtfully
so, these latter being still under observation.