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speak of a third type of organisation, in a manner a combination of the other two, which has come into
being in some parts of London, and is used, inter aha, for dealing with prevention of pulmonary tuberculosis.
This is the Local Health Society; ex officio, on the working committee, is the medical officer of
health, and a variety of public health matters is handled by it which appear to be unsuitable for treatment
by the official public health committee. A Health Society may be described as, in effect, a
voluntary, unofficial public health department. Amongst other matters, such as infant visiting, health
lectures, and instruction to pregnant and puerperal women, it is found that almoner's work in connection
with general hospitals, especially enquiry into cases of tuberculosis, may suitably be taken by such
Societies. The Westminster Health Society, for instance, which has issued its fourth annual report,
has a wide membership and large staff. Special districts are allotted to the voluntary visiting staff.
Recently there have joined the Society representatives of the staffs of hospitals situated within or
near to the City. Arrangements have also been made by certain charitable institutions to have
enquiries made into out-patients' circumstances by visitors of the Health Society. To this Society
are referred the cases of pulmonary tuberculosis which occur in the City of Westminster.
W. McC. Wanklyn.
October, 1909.