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54
Supply ot
surgical
appliaucea.
Arrangements were also made through the Invalid Children's Aid Association
for assisting in providing children with surgical appliances after discharge from
institutional treatment; such assistance was given in 70 cases. The Council's
contribution is borne from the balance of a fund known as the " Tuberculosis
Contributions Fund " into which contributions made by parents towards the cost of
their children's residential treatment under the Council's tuberculosis scheme
were paid prior to 1st April, 1925. Payments into this separate account are no longer
made as, since 1st April, 1925, the contributions of patients towards the cost of their
maintenance have been paid into the County Fund and, even so, since July, 1934,
only voluntary contributions have been received. The balance of the fund is,
however, being applied as indicated above.
Open-air
schools.
In addition to the arrangements for residential treatment of tuberculous
children, the Council has established six open-air day schools with accommodation
for 515 children (allowing for a nominal roll of 618) suffering from pulmonary
tuberculosis or from tuberculous glands with no open wounds, who do not require
treatment in residential institutions. The work of these schools is dealt with in the
school medical officer's report (Vol. III, Part II, p. 51).
Tuberculosis
care
committee
work.
In each metropolitan borough there is a tuberculosis care committee or other
organisation appointed or provided by the Metropolitan Borough Council for various
welfare purposes, working in association with the tuberculosis dispensaries.
The decision of the Council of 10th July, 1934, to grant free residential treatment
for all cases of tuberculosis treated under the Council's scheme has caused considerable
change in the work of the care committees. They no longer have to assess the weekly
amounts that patients or their families should pay towards the cost of treatment.
Voluntary contributions are, however, accepted from persons who feel they would
like to make a payment and can afford to do so.
The care committees are still required to make some assessments, but only
towards the cost of dentures and spectacles supplied by the Council to patients
undergoing treatment. The work of the committees has not been appreciably
reduced because their principal concern has always been, and still is, with those
cases that are necessitous and require help in some form. Previously, assessed cases
only amounted to 28 per cent, of the total number of patients sent to residential
institutions under the scheme.
There has been increased activity amongst certain care committees in the raising
of funds from voluntary sources. Several committees have successfully availed
themselves of the scheme organised by the National Association for the Prevention
of Tuberculosis for raising money by the sale of Christmas seals.
Handicraft
classes.
The work of the handicraft classes has been carried on and excellent work has
been done. On 24th and 25th October an exhibition and sale of the work of 13
classes was held at the Carpenter's Hall. The exhibition was opened on the first
day by the Lord Mayor, and on the second day by the Chairman of the Council.
Great variety and a high standard of craft work were displayed and the sales amounted
to £195. In several boroughs exhibitions and sales by individual boroughs were also
held during the autumn with good results.
The only new activity that has been developed by the care committees since the
last report has been the starting of cookery classes in two boroughs (Deptford and
Woolwich). These are held at the dispensaries chiefly for the wives and mothers
of patients to teach them how to do inexpensive invalid cookery and how to obtain
the highest nutritive value from the cheapest foods. The classes appear to be popular
and the care committees concerned are greatly encouraged by finding that the cookery
taught is really being carried out in some of the homes of tuberculous patients.
The two classes that have been started are likely, to be permanent except during the
summer