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137
"Tuberculosis Regulations, either himself or through an
"officer acting under his instructions to make such
"enquiries and take such steps as may appear to him
"necessary or desirable for preventing the spread of
"infection and for removing conditions favourable to
"infection. These enquiries will necessarily include
"investigations into sources of infection, search for con"tacts,
and enquiry into housing conditions."
It is hardly necessary to add that these enquiries constitute
an extremely important branch of the preventative work
for dealing with Tuberculosis, and that the general Scheme
would be robbed of much of its value if measures were not
taken to get promptly in touch with the home, and to maintain
the necessary advice and assistance—even after a sufferer
returned from a Sanatorium. The present staff could not
adequately discharge these duties. They are otherwise fully
employed. Hitherto the Medical Officer of Health has made
it his practice to visit at least 90 per cent. of the cases notified,
and this he would continue to do; but it would be quite
impossible for him to make the large number of "followingup"
visits demanded under a complete Dispensary Scheme.
At least the part-time services of a specially trained nurse
would be necessary.
In connection with the work of the Tuberculosis Dispensary
it would be most desirable to obtain the assistance
of an After-care Committee, to secure for patients who had
been discharged from Sanatoria or who had received satisfactory
treatment at the Dispensary that advice and help about
their future life and work should be given. This necessity
for After-care was set out in the Interim Report of the
Departmental Committee on Tuberculosis. Such Committee
would endeavour in some cases, in addition to giving advice,
to obtain suitable occupation, to combat the fear of infection
often felt by employers and fellow employes, and to obtain
relief. The Committee should be representative of all the
charitable and official bodies in the Borough.