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45
So far as the dispensary element is concerned certain steps had indeed been
taken prior to 1912. The question of placing the existing voluntary dispensary
fully under the control of the Council had been discussed with representatives of
the governing body of that institution.
In the opinion of the Committee, infinitely more effective work on the
tuberculosis problem could be done if the dispensary definitely formed part of the
Public Health Organization of the Borough and the officers carrying out that part of
the tuberculosis work done at the dispensary, were appointed by and under the
control of the Council.
With this view, which was adopted by the Council in July, 1912, on a report of
the Public Health Committee, those who represented the Dispensary refused to agree,
and though there were several meetings and the point was frequently discussed, no
definite decision was arrived at.
With regard to the other parts of the scheme, the Committee formed the opinion
that the Sanatorium provision could most conveniently be made by the Metropolitan
Asylums Board, and so reported to the Council and to the London County Council.
Accommodation for advanced cases they advised should, if possible, be provided
locally, and if necessary for the purpose, combination might be made with the
Councils of one or more neighbouring Boroughs.
The view expressed with regard to sanatorium provision gained ground during
the year, and so far as can be made out at present, the arrangement suggested is that
likely eventually to be made.
The delay in taking action in this part of the scheme, and that relating to the
advanced cases, is largely due to the difficulties that have been experienced in arriving
at a settlement of the dispensary question.
Until the dispensary part of the scheme is fully organized and working properly,
the full necessities of the case, so far as concerns the patient in need of treatment in
the sanatorium or the hospital cannot be decided.
During the year, all the sanatorium treatment provided, apart from the small
amount given by the Insurance Committee was obtained by interesting philanthropic
persons in the patients in need of such treatment.
The only resort of the patient with advanced consumption was as in previous
years the Poor Law Infirmary.
That this was so is as much open to objection as the arrangement which compels
the patient in poor circumstances in need of sanatorium treatment to depend upon the
philanthropist to provide it for him.
Bacteriological Diagnosis of Consumption.—The arrangements made by the
Council which allow of any medical man in doubt as to diagnosis of a case of
consumption submitting a specimen of expectoration to the Council's bacteriologist for
examination and report were largely taken advantage of during the year. The total
number of specimens submitted was 271, of these 80 were found to contain the
bacillus of tuberculosis and in 191 a negative result was obtained.