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between representatives of the Hospitals and Dispensaries in Westminster,
the Westminster Division of the British Medical Association
and the Health Society, at which various schemes were considered for
securing diagnosis and proper medical treatment at the earliest possible
stage of the disease; for improving, as far as possible, the home
surroundings of patients; for the examination of "contacts" and the
notification of cases to the Public Health authority.
There was some difference of opinion at the Conference as to whether
these highly desirable objects could in practice be best attained by the
establishment of a special dispensary, on the lines of those existing in
Edinburgh, New York, Paddington and many other places, or by the
less ambitious method of simply inviting and urging the Hospitals,
Dispensaries and Medical Practitioners in Westminster to co-operate
more effectively than at present with the City Council and the Health
Society in the detection and prevention of this disease.
As the result of the Conference a Special Committee of the Health
Society was appointed, consisting of Dr. Forsyth (Charing Cross
Hospital), Dr. Macnamara (Westminster Hospital), Dr. A. E. Cope,
Mr. Councillor G. W. Tallents, Miss M. Horn, Hon. Sec. of the Society,
Mrs. Drake and the Medical Officer of Health. The Committee feel
strongly that existing arrangements for dealing with consumption in
Westminster are entirely inadequate and behind the times, but in view
of the financial and other difficulties attending the formation of a
special dispensary, they have decided that a scheme of co-operation
shall be tried first.
With this object the City Council was asked to remind medical men
that a scheme of voluntary notification was adopted by the Council in
1903, and to invite them to avail themselves of it. It is now proposed
that in cases in which the medical attendant desires it, a properly
trained special visitor from the Health Society shall call upon the
patient to give instructions as to measures of personal hygiene and
precautions against infection; will look out for "contacts," and will
endeavour, in cases requiring outside assistance, to obtain, through the
agency of the various charitable societies, better food, clothing, separate
bed, sanatorium or other treatment indicated by the medical attendant,
and to discover and take steps to obtain the removal of insanitary
conditions which may affect the patient. Such information will be
supplied to the medical attendant, so that he may be the better enabled
to advise in each case.
The medical staffs of the various hospitals and dispensaries are also
being asked to assist in regard to patients attending these institutions,
and particularly whether they would afford special facilities for
examining persons who had been exposed to infection.