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55
and efficiently carried out by St. Thomas's Hospital Governors
through the Lady Almoner's Department (Miss Cummins) in
the Inner Districts of the Borough, and it was essential that such
existing local organisation should, at that time, be incorporated
within the proposed new Lambeth Scheme so as to secure the
maximum success. The question is quite different in regard
to the Outer Districts of the Borough upon the same terms and
conditions as those that obtain at St. Thomas's Hospital. Such
a proposed alteration in administration would really amount
to the delegation of the whole of the Council's tuberculosis-prevention
and tuberculosis-treatment power to outside administrative
organisation. Such a proposed alteration is bad in principle and
contrary to a Sanitary Authority's successful and efficient administration.
Apart from that, the question of finance (in connection
with such a change) must be considered, as it is clear that an additional
financial burden would, necessarily, be involved, and that, too, with
entire, or practically entire, loss of administrative control.* The
matter is under joint consideration by the Ministry of Health and
the Council, but its further discussion is held over until the newlyappointed
Medical Officer of Health and chief executive tuberculosis
officer (Dr. Thompson) has had an opportunity of reporting officially
on the facts of the case.
Appointment of Assistant Tuberculosis Officer (for visiting
the Homes of Patients) in connection with the Inner
Districts of the Borough.
Dr. A. J. G. McLaughlin has continued in office as Assistant
Tuberculosis Officer (for visiting the homes of the patients) in connection
with the Branch Tuberculosis Dispensary, St. Thomas's
Hospital, for the Inner Districts of the Borough.
Results from the Working of the Lambeth Scheme.
The Lambeth Municipal Tuberculosis Dispensaries Scheme still
continues to justify its inauguration by the Council on 3rd October,
1912 (the Scheme being approved by the then Local Government
Board in 1913), as shown by statistics; and it is interesting, therefore,
to place on record the completed results up to date, as shown
thereby for the whole of the Borough of Lambeth, since the inauguration
of the Lambeth Scheme, in the form of (1) death-rates, and
(2) incidence rates from tuberculosis in the two classifications of
(a) pulmonary tuberculosis and (6) tuberculosis (all forms) as
follows:—
*The amount (at present suggested) is £1,500 per annum, to be paid to
King's College Hospital, but such an amount would in no way meet the
necessary expenditure.