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122
Branch Dispensary.
Shelters for the use of patients are obtainable, as required,
from the Borough Council and one patient has actually had a
shelter in use for the last twelve years, but, as a rule, it is found
that the use of shelters in this district is impracticable, owing to
lack of space and the fact that any yards and gardens which might
be suitable for this purpose are very much overlooked by neighbouring
houses and the patients are, consequently, not willing to
sleep in the shelters.
(xv) Central and Branch Dispensaries.
The more congested areas of the Borough suffer from a
greater tuberculosis incidence than the less congested areas, vide
also 1925 Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health,
pp. 32, 54, 55. Certain special occupations, e.g., tailors, printers
engravers, cinema attendants, clerks, &c., appear to recur as the
stated occupations of notified tuberculosis patients. The home
conditions of many of the notified tuberculosis patients are lound,
on inspection, to be defective as regards ordinary sanitary defects,
more especially the want of air and sunlight and crowding of
persons in houses, and unsuitable or lack of suitable food, etc.
It is noticed, also, that children of country people, who migrate to
congested London town life, appear to be more liable to contract
tuberculosis than those whose families are old Lambeth residents,
and, as such, more or less immune (probably from previous
attacks).
Employees in Doulton's Pottery Works do not appear to be
more liable to tuberculosis, though several have extensive radiological
changes in their lungs from the inhalation of the dust.
(xvi) Central and Branch Dispensaries.
Tuberculosis being a disease mainly due to modern industrial
civilisation and general social and economic conditions, it would
appear that its prevention is mainly dependent upon (a) better
social and economic and housing conditions, good food, steadiness
of employment, etc., and (b) care of infected cases to avoid
spreading the disease from person to person. All patients