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171
approval to the provision and equipment of premises for the purpose of giving
artificial or natural sunlight treatment for tuberculosis, consideration was given to
the question whether artificial light should be used to a greater extent for the treatment
of tuberculosis under the Council's scheme. The Council was not prepared
to approve, for grant purposes, as part of the arrangements at borough tuberculosis
dispensaries, the provision by metropolitan borough councils of facilities for artificial
light treatment; but steps have been taken, in consultation with the Ministry of
Health, with a view to provision being made at suitable institutions for a test on
an adequate scale of the advantages of artificial light treatment.
With the object of reducing the number of cases of arrested disease under
supervision at the dispensaries after they have reached a stage at which they may
reasonably be regarded as " cured arrangements for the cessation of dispensary
treatment or supervision of cases of tuberculosis on a definite basis came into force
on 1st January, 1925.
In consultation with the Minister of Health the Council has approved of
arrangements in several cases during the year for the post-graduate instruction of
tuberculosis officers.
A conference was held in May, 1925, with representatives of the tuberculosis
care committees, at which various matters concerning the work of those committees
were discussed.
Under the Council's scheme, the contributions received from parents or
guardians towards the cost of the residential treatment of children are paid into a
fund, known as the Tuberculosis Contributions Fund, which is applied towards the
provision of institutional treatment in certain cases, clothing, surgical appliances,
etc., the Invalid Children's Aid Association undertaking the necessary arrangements.
The use of the Fund has been extended and applied towards defraying the cost of
boarding out children removed temporarily from homes infected with tuberculosis,
certain children on discharge from sanatoria, other weakly children living under
conditions likely to subject them to infection from tuberculosis, and children, in
suitable instances, whose parents are under treatment for tuberculosis, and whom
it would appear desirable to deal with in the manner indicated. The Invalid
Children's Aid Association has undertaken these arrangements also during an experimental
period of one year, the cost, less any amounts received by way of contributions
from parents, being met out of the Fund.
The chairman of the Public Health Committee gave evidence on behalf of the
Council before the Royal Commission on National Health Insurance in support of
the Council's representations that consideration should be given to the questions
whether:—
(i.) Grants should be made from national health insurance funds in aid
of approved work centres at which post-sanatoria cases could be employed
under the medical supervision of the tuberculosis officer;
(ii.) The statutory maximum period of sickness benefit should be extended
in the case of tuberculous persons;
(iii.) Allowances should be made from insurance funds to tuberculous
insured persons capable ot part-time, but incapable of whole-time, work; and
(iv.) The surpluses available under the National Health Insurance Act for
"additional benefits" should be utilised, at the discretion of the approved
societies, in part for certain benefits in kind, financial aid, etc., on a similar
basis to the provision made for ex-service men by the British Red Cross and
United Services Fund.
Reference is made on p. 177 to the ^presentations on the subject of providing
suitable employment for tuberculous members of urban populations which were made
made by the deputation which attended before the Minister of Health in June, 1925.