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been put on the way to lead a perfectly normal, healthful and useful life, and
many who, because of periods of ili-health, might have failed to benefit from
the education provided in the ordinary schools have been enabled to have the
advantage of a course of instruction in no sense inferior to that available in
such schools.
The Open Air School was established in June, 1911, at the time when the
Tuberculosis Dispensary was conducted on a voluntary basis, and ever since
that date has gone on day by day in the extremely primitive accommodation
originally selected, namely, one of the bandstands in Regent's Park. After
the Dispensary was taken over by the Borough Council the School continued
to run, and though the Borough Council was precluded from rendering any
financial aid they placed the services of Dr. Saner, the Tuberculosis Officer,
at the disposal of the Special Committee who carried on the affairs of the
School. As Medical Officer to the School for many years, Dr. Saner has
performed a valuable service which has been greatly appreciated.
The Council, as responsible for the working of the tuberculosis scheme in
the Borough, is under a deep debt of gratitude to the Open Air School Committee
for the work it has done. The activities of the Dispensary, particularly
so far as regards preventive work amongst children, have been supplemented
to a very large extent by the Open Air School Committee and the establishment
for which they made themselves responsible. So far as the administrative
work is concerned, Miss Broadbent, who has been associated with the
School since its inception, is particularly deserving of gratitude; and on the
executive side most praiseworthy if not, indeed, wonderful work has been done
by the teacher Mrs. Fitzgerald.
We RECOMMEND-
That the Council do place on record their appreciation of the services
rendered by Miss M. E. Broadbent, Mrs. Fitzgerald, and the Members of
the Committee responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the
Open Air School in Regent's Park for tuberculous children."
The number of children on the roll for 1929 was 22—14 boys and 8 girls—and
the attendances numbered 4,994. Dr. Saner, who has been Medical Officer of the
School since he took office at the Dispensary, continued to act throughout the year.
The following extracts from a report by the Tuberculosis Officer (Dr. Saner)
contain reference to a number of points that may be of interest:—
"Tuberculosis Dispensary.—Statistics for the year 1929, are set out in the
tables and need no comment except to say that it is the wish of the Ministry of
Health that all patients who have received public treatment, whether they have
attended the Dispensary or not, should be placed on the Dispensary Register.
This has been done.
The Care Committee has met fortnightly during the year and has had under
discussion 308 cases. Of these 156 were in connection with treatment through the
London County Council to whom 191 reports on the progress of patients (post
sanatorium treatment) have been forwarded, 8 children have been away through
the Invalid Children's Aid Association, and other children through the London
County Council included in the 156.
The Open Air School in Regent's Park closed its doors at the end of the year,
having been in existence since 1911. During the whole of that time it was supported
entirely by voluntary contributions. It is greatly to be regretted that this
very useful work has ended but there is no doubt that in a large sense a pioneer
it showed the way to many other like establishments not only in this country but
abroad and in the Colonies. A word of praise is due to the teacher, Mrs. Fitzgerald,
who has during a long period achieved some excellent, even wonderful,