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68
Employment of Tuberculous Persons.
A problem of much difficulty in connection with tuberculosis is the employment
of tuberculous men. For the past two years the Central Fund for the
Industrial Welfare of Tuberculosis Persons has been engaged in an experimental
enquiry into the conditions under which tuberculous men living in their own homes
can with advantage be employed in hygienic workshops. Their first workshop, for
the production of high class fancy leather goods, was opened in the Borough in
Cross Street, Hatton Garden. A memorandum issued by the Fund states that the
purpose in view was not to show that tuberculous men could be employed in
a health resort, but in some central place not far from their homes and not differing
materially from their usual surroundings. The workers selected had already
undergone a course of treatment and training in a sanatorium and some, but not
all, had obtained either arrest or quiescence of the disease. They were drawn
from the industrial class and preference was (and is) given to ex-Service men.
The workshop now has its full complement, 20 workers. The hours of work are
8.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. then a rest 10 minutes; 10.40 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. then
dinner interval one hour; work ceases at 5.30 p.m. Wages are based on hours
actually worked and the value of the output. The Annual Report of the Fund
for the year 1924 says "the experience gained in the working of the first hygienic
workshop during the last two years is convincing testimony that the scheme of
providing industrial employment for the tuberculous in hygienic workshops is
worth a more extended trial," and the report adds that the co-operation of the
Borough Tuberculosis Officer together with the Care Committee of the district
in which the workers live is essential if the organisation of the scheme is to prove
successful.
Home Nursing for Tuberculous Patients.
With the sanction of the Minister of Health arrangements were made for
nursing of tuberculous patients by the Metropolitan Nursing Association. The
nursing is limited to cases in which there is urgent need of skilled nursing.
The service will be most useful both for diagnostic purposes and for nursing
patients whose removal to hospital is not practicable or where removal for some
reason is necessarily delayed; it will not be allowed to stand in the way of
admission to institution.
During the year four such cases were nursed, a total of 123 visits being paid
to these patients.
Dental Clinic for Tuberculous Persons.
Arrangements have been made for tuberculous persons referred from the
Tuberculosis Dispensary to receive dental treatment as part of the Council's
Tuberculosis Dispensary Scheme, at the Clinic of the British Dental Hospital,
No. 10, John Street, W.C
In the year 1924 8 new patients were treated. These patients made 29
attendances.
Scaling and gum treatment was given in two cases. Extractions with general
dnaesthet.ic in six cases. In one case filling was provided. In two cases dentures
were provided.