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85
All experts are agreed upon the urgent necessity for
admitting bed-ridden patients to Institutions, where they
will cease to be centres of infection to the community,
and there is little doubt but that the Poor Law Institutions
have, in the past, played an important part in this way
in the reduction of the death-rate from tuberculosis.
There is, however, still the difficulty, in connection with
Poor Law Institutions, the so-called "poor law
stigma" as a sentimental objection.
For arranging for institutional treatment, a fully
trained lady almoner or social worker is necessary, as
she can, by her expert knowledge of the sources and
means by which such treatment can be obtained, be of
much help (see also "After Care").
(3) Centre for Curative Treatment.
In presenting the results of treatment, vague and
general terms such as "improved." "worse," "in statu
quo," etc., have been avoided, and a classification has
been devised according to the standard factor of capacity
for work. This classification presents a method of
indexing the results of treatments and these results are
set out in full in Table VI., under the headings of (1)
total cases treated, (2) patients treated at a sanatorium,
(3) patients treated with tuberculin. Results of treatment
are most important from the economic point of view,
and the following classification, which has been adopted,
may be described as an economic classification:—
(a) Fit for Work.
(1) Patients fit for work at commencement of treatment
and remaining so;
(2) Patients not fit for work at commencement of
treatment but becoming fit;
(b) Unfit for Work.
(3)Patients fit for work at commencement of treatment
but not remaining so;
(4) Patients not fit for work at commencement of treatment
and remaining so;