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60
Seventeen patients known to the Committee have died during the year,
15 of these died in Institutions, and 2 died at home.
Twenty patients and families known to us have left the Borough during the
year. The majority have left to go to better accommodation, but a few did not
return to the district after discharge from treatment because their work there was
gone.
One family, consisting of husband, wife and two small children had migrated
to London in search of work—but the result was tragedy. The husband was unsuccessful
in his search, the younger child was found to be suffering from
tuberculosis, and the other child was taken ill and admitted to hospital. The
mother, who was very run down, was sent away for convalescence. They appeared
to be a very devoted couple but, most unexpectedly, the husband suddenly
deserted his wife and children and could not be traced. The wife had no friends
in London, so she was assisted to return, with her children, to her relatives in
Glasgow.
In spite of the numbers who have left us, we still know of about a dozen
families who are waiting for better accommodation—some of them urgently.
The Committee gratefully acknowledge the co-operation and assistance
afforded by a number of organisations, including the British Legion and United
Services Fund Benevolent Department, the British Red Cross Emergency Help
Committee, the Charity Organisation Society, the Invalid Children's Aid Association,
the London Philanthropic Society—(who made us a welcome grant of 34
coal tickets and 60 milk tickets), The National Association for the Prevention of
Tuberculosis, the Public Assistance Committee, and the Society for the Relief of
Distress. To Alderman Mullen we once more tender our very grateful thanks
for his generous gift of coal at Christmas time, and to Councillor Bailey for
distributing it. We would also express our gratitude to His Worship the Mayor
and to members of the Borough Council, and all those who, by their contributions,
made it possible for us to obtain Christmas Dinners for many of our families.
Public Health (Prevention of Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1925.
It was not necessary to take any action under the above Regulations during
the year 1938.
Home Nursing for Tuberculous Patients.
It was necessary during the year 1938 for only two tuberculous patients to be
nursed under the arrangements made by the Council with the Metropolitan
District Nursing Association; 140 visits were made to these patients before their
death.
Dental Clinic for Tuberculous Persons.
Arrangements were continued for tuberculous persons referred from the
Tuberculosis Dispensary to receive dental treatment as part of the Council's
Tuberculosis Dispensary Scheme, at the Clinic of the British Dental Hospital,
No. 10, John Street, W.C.1.
Particulars of this service are given in the table below (General Dental Clinic).
The Clinic is held by the British Dental Hospital at the Council's Maternity
Centre, 10, John Street, on Tuesday evenings.