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46
The St. Marylehone Dispensary for the Prevention of Consumption.—The
following information with regard to the work of the local anti-tuberculosis dispensary
is taken from a short summary kindly supplied by Dr. Sutherland, the Medical
Officer.
Dr. Sutherland writes:—
"During the second year of its existence the work of the tuberculosis
dispensary was materially increased. New patients numbered 553, and the total
attendances of old and new patients amounted to 8,507, as against 3,637 in 1911.
Of the new patients, 293 were diagnosed as suffering from pulmonary
tuberculosis, and were notified as such to the Public Health Department.
The Public Health Authority is also notified on the death or removal of any
patient, or from time to time if the home conditions be very bad, so that
disinfection may be carried out. Insanitary conditions and all changes of
address are notified to the Medical Officer of Health, as they come to the notice
of the Dispensary Officers, while the Sanitary Inspectors and Health Visitors of
the Council have the right of inspecting at the dispensary the medical case sheets
and the domiciliary schedules.
The home treatment of tuberculosis patients involves in many cases a
careful consideration of economic conditions, and to deal with this aspect of the
work, a Case Committee of voluntary workers, of which Sir Reginald Talbot is
chairman, meets every Friday morning. The work of this committee covers
such ground as unsatisfactory home conditions, advanced cases, sanatorium and
convalescent cases, shelter cases, etc.
Under the Insurance Act, cases requiring domiciliary treatment are referred
to the Dispensary by the County of London Insurance Committee.
The Open Air School, in Regent's Park, which opened in January, 1911,
has now passed the experimental stage. Beginning with 11 names on the roll,
the high water mark was reached in November, 1912, with 57 names on the roll,
and an average daily attendance of 50 pupils. This school is intended for two groups
of children (1) the infected children from tuberculous homes; and (2) those who
have received previous treatment at sanatoriums and convalescent homes. None
of these children are infectious, but are excluded from the ordinary schools by
the Dispensary Medical Officer, by arrangement with the School Medical Officer
for London, the reason being that while they do not progress well under the
ordinary conditions of school life, very remarkable progress is made when they
are educated under conditions of pure air. Although the school is open all winter,
there are very few cases even of cold in the head, and no cases of infectious
fevers."
Work of Women Inspectors.—As already pointed out a considerable part of the
time of the women inspectors is given to visiting and revisiting cases of consumption,
advising and helping those who are affected and trying to obtain protection for those
who are still unaffected,