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primarily established for the examination and treatment
(including' tuberculin injections or inoculations) of
patients suffering from consumption, but chiefly useful
in the discovering of cases in the early stages of the
disease—the so-called "contacts," by the Medical
Officers and Nurses or Health Visitors, who, as part
of their routine duties, would visit the homes of the
patients. In other words, it is from the Tuberculosis
Dispensaries that the sanatoria and the hospitals or
infirmaries would be fed: indeed, a Tuberculosis Dispensary
may best be described as a "sifting" or
"classifying" organization. Compulsory notification of
the disease is, of course, an absolute necessity, so as
to bring to light the foci wherein such disease lurks,
but, naturally, the information obtained from such compulsory
notification must be regarded as strictly private
and confidential, and the greatest tact must be exercised
in connection with any visits that may be paid
officially to the homes of the notified patients. There
is no doubt that (1) consumption is, to a limited
extent, an infectious disease, (2) that its spread
to others can be prevented by simple measures, and (3)
that the disease itself can be arrested, or even cured,
if its nature is recognized early, and if proper means
are taken for its treatment. These are three
facts that cannot be too widely known, and patients
who have, unfortunately, contracted the disease should
not be allowed to become despondent and to regard
their cases as hopeless, but, on the other hand, should
be encouraged to regard their disease as curable.
Tuberculosis Dispensaries are also of value educationally
in the same way, but not to the same extent, as
Sanatoria are, whilst the leaflets, dealing with simple
precautionary measures, that would be distributed
broadcast, would assist in the dissemination of simple
knowledge as to the nature and prevention of the
disease.
The Borough of Lambeth is a wide area, and a large
number of consumption cases occur annually. A Tuberculosis
Dispensary, in my opinion, is therefore necessary,
and should be established at an early date, either
(1) bv the Council, as the Sanitary Authority, under
the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, or (2) by
voluntary effort and subscription. If this latter
method be adopted, T would suggest the calling of a
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