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"may" is frequently employed. This has been partly explained by Mr. F.
J. Willis, Assistant Secretary of the Local Government Board, who in an
address at a Conference of Metropolitan Medical Officers' of Health on
September 30th, 1912, said, " We have got beyond the day when it is necessary
to say you shall do it. We have almost said that in connection with the
National Insurance Act we ate prepared to go a long way in trusting local
authorities to make adequate arrangements, and we have, therefore, hardly
looked at the question as to whether there is any legal obligation."
It is very plain, therefore, from these remarks that the Local Government
Board hope, and expect, that sanitary authorities will provide
dispensaries where they have not been already provided. Indeed, in the
Circular of the Board, dated 8th December, 1912, they say that " The
organisation of schemes must be taken as part of the public health administration
of the area to which they relate, and the Medical Officer of Health should
be the chief executive and organizing officer."
I think also that it is quite clear that the Local Government Board
are fully assured as to the power of sanitary authorities to establish dispensaries
or contract for their use, and consequently the Council of this Borough may be
satisfied that they are entitled and expected to spend public monies on them.
What is a Tuberculosis Dispensary ?—Up to this point this
Report has only dealt with the sickness and mortality caused by tubercular
disease in order to show that there is a great and crying need for some agency
which would reach those unfortunate people who have been attacked with it,
as well as to inculcate the lesson that there is a great moral obligation resting
on all persons who administer the public health affairs of this country to
use the powers they undoubtedly possess in assisting to eradicate this " Great
White Plague." Happily this obligation has been recognised nearly everywhere
throughout the Kingdom, as well as in the Metropolis.
In London efforts are being made everywhere to provide dispensaries,
and I believe that at this moment there is hardlv a single borough which has
not made some move in the matter. A few authorities have provided beds in
sanatoria, but nearly all are endeavouring to establish dispensaries, leaving
to the London County Council the provision of sanatoria. This is evidently
what the Local Government Board expect and desire, as shown by their letter
to the London County Council, dated 19th October, 1912, in which they inform
them that " As the County Council are no doubt aware, the Metropolitan
Borough Councils are taking steps to provide Dispensaries."
This statement is borne out by the fact that a return prepared by the Medical
Officer of Health of Bethnal Green shows that already fifteen boroughs are
provided with dispensaries, and that six others have the provision of them under