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34
Housing.
No attempt is made in this Report to deal with the large question of housing in relation to tuberculosis.
It is generally admitted that bad housing conditions are associated with the increased incidence
of tuberculosis in the community, but there may be some difference of opinion as to how far they are
related as cause and effect.
This country is definitely committed to a very large new housing programme, which will
ultimately involve the expenditure of some hundreds of millions of pounds.
Bearing in mind the serious economic position which has arisen as a result of the war, and the
obligation which such a situation places upon each one of us to revise carefully in our minds all schemes
for the expenditure of public money, it is of the first importance that one should endeavour to make up
one's mind as to whether any large capital expenditure upon buildings, such as new sanatoria, colonies,
permanent village settlements, etc., is justified, rather than the expenditure of an equivalent sum upon
new and improved accommodation for the working classes.
It is certain that the country can only afford to spend a certain amount of money for these purposes,
and that only a certain amount of material for building purposes is available.
In these circumstances one feels disposed to favour concentration upon the provision of new
and improved dwellings for the working classes in the hope that (a) a certain amount of the new accommodation
will be reserved for the better housing of the tuberculous section of the community, (6) that such
accommodation is specially designed as regards through ventilation, etc., for the needs of tuberculous
patients, and (c) that applications for such accommodation from tuberculous patients should be
accompanied by a certificate from the medical officer of health as to the need for such accommodati n
in the case of the applicant. If such accommodation is made available it should form part of a
scheme of " After.care."
It has been calculated by Dr. Chapman that the amount of such accommodation required would
not exceed 5 per cent, of the new housing accommodation about to be provided by public authorities
and having regard to the fact that in all such new housing schemes for the working classes it is admitted,
that it is impossible to charge an economic rent for the accommodation provided out of public monies,
it seems to be a reasonable proposition that the State and the local authorities should agree to reserve
a small percentage of this accommodation for the special needs of tuberculous patients.
Dr. Chalmers, the well.known Medical Officer of Health for Glasgow, giving evidence before
the Departmental Committee on Tuberculosis in 1919, said that he would rather use the money which
would be involved in colony expenditure (and, in fact, a good deal of what was being spent in residential
treatment) on improved home for tuberculous patients.
Open.Air Schools.
Open.air schools for children of school age (a) definitely notified as tuberculous, and (6) not yet
notified, but regarded as suspicious and requiring careful observation, have recently formed the subject
of a special report to the Council (extracts from this report will be found in Appendix XIII.). In view of
the fact that the Council adopted this report, and that several schools of both types have actually been
opened, and are being carried on successfully, it is felt that for the purposes of this report there is no
need to make any further special reference to the subject.
The schools actually in operation are—
(a) For notified tuberculous children, Kensal House (100); Springwell House (125);
Stormont House (150).
(ib) For delicate children—Birley House (100); Shooter's Hill (100).
F. N. Kay Menzies.