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through the Benson Nursing and Ranyard Nursing Associations. Extra
nourishment was granted through the Dispensary direct to 31 patients
while waiting admission for institutional treatment or immediately aiter
discharge from an institution. A certain number of patients were
recommended to the Southwark Invalid Kitchen for dinners, and a
number were granted extra nourishment by the Southwark Board of
Guardians.
XI. The residential arrangements for treating non-pulmonary
tuberculosis, especially tuberculosis of bones and joints in adults and in
children, and for the provision of surgical apparatus, &c., are dealt with
by the London County Council.
XII. The Care Committee is composed of members of the Borough
Council, and representatives from all the leading philanthropic organizations
in the Borough, the local medical profession, and the Tuberculosis
Dispensary. The Committee has a voluntary secretary and meets weekly
at the Town Hall.
XIII. Cases are referred to the Superintendent of the Local Labour
Exchange who is also a member of the Tuberculosis Care Committee,
for special consideration, as to provision of occupation after leaving an
institution.
XIV. There are 4 shelters which are lent to patients and kept in
repair by the Council. They are generally in constant use and are
greatly appreciated. The district is not suitable for many to be used
being very congested, and with few gardens, but they serve very useful
purposes in procuring more open air for the patient and in removing a
source of infection from the congested home.
XV. The disease is fairly wide-spread in the district and not
confined to any particular section of the community.
XVI. All the usual methods are adopted for the prevention of
Tuberculosis and are exercised to the best advantage, with the result
that there is a steady diminution both in the incidence and mortality for
the last 10 years.
XVII. The greatest difficulty in a crowded borough like Southwark
is want of space both indoors and out of doors. The houses are for the
most part overcrowded and congested, and whereas in the country a
patient can walk about without coming into contadt with others, in a
city like this he comes in close touch with people in the streets, tubes,
trams and buses. The question of infection is also more serious for
whereas a small amount of expectoration in a country lane is not a
serious matter, it becomes of considerably more importance on a town
pavement where children play, and it may be carried on the boots into
houses, or by flies in the summer on to the food stuffs on adjacent stalls
and shops or in the houses.
More open spaces are required in a district of this description to
give the cramped population more fresh air and sunlight.