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Many of the present members of the City Council may not be aware
of what was done before the Dispensary system came into existence, it may
be useful to state shortly the preventive measures which were adopted.
In 1903, the Council introduced a system of voluntary notification
which was well supported until notification became compulsory.*
Visitors were appointed, printed cards of information and advice
were distributed, disinfection of rooms and bedding on the departure
or death of patients was carried out; free examination of sputum
was arranged for; sputum flasks were distributed to patients, and
provision made for supplying bed, bedding and clothing in suitable cases.
Sanatorium treatment for a number of patients in St. Anne's Ward was
provided by the St. Henry Convalescent Fund from 1902 until the Insurance
Act came into operation. The Westminster Guardians devoted their
institution at Hendon for the special treatment of Consumptives, and in
1910 the Council secured beds for Westminster patients in Maitland and
Fairlight Sanatoriums. Thus in 1911, 388 patients received institutional
treatment, in 1914 the number was 445. In the two years before the
Dispensary was opened the number of visits paid by Health Visitors was
5,085 and 6,170 respectively. Arrangements were made for the examination
of "contacts" and "suspects" by hospitals, by school medical
officers, by private practitioners and by the medical officers of the Children's
Inspection Centres. In 1914 and 1915, 467 and 469 were thus examined.
The adoption of the Dispensary system in 1916 brought in the services
of medical officers of special experience in Tuberculosis, and perhaps one
of the most useful of his functions has been in the increasing use which has
been made of him by medical practitioners in obtaining his advice for
*In 1909 notification was made compulsory for poor law cases of pulmonary
tuberculosis; in 1911 it was extended to persjns using hospitals and dispensaries, and in
1913 it was made general and to include all forms of tuberculosis.