View report page

36
ment was entered into pending the result of the Local Government
Board Inquiry as to the suitability of Clare Hall Hospital
for the reception of Tubercular patients.
In 1910 six cases were admitted into the Council's beds at
the Sanatorium.
In last year's report the history of the cases admitted into
the Mount Vernon Sanatorium from this district was given. In
almost all the cases the immediate results were gratifying, and
when early and suitable cases can be secured a considerable
percentage may be returned to the ranks of active workers and
remain in those ranks for several years. The percentage gets
smaller as the interval since their discharge increases.
To procure lasting effects earlier cases must be treated, and
the patient must be cared for on discharge so that he can
gradually return to work. But these are only two phases of one
question. If treatment could be carried out in the earliest stages
of the disease, after-care would probably be unnecessary.
But apart from this difficulty, sanatorium accommodation is
limited and expensive, and even in the partially endowed
institutions the length of time necessary for nominal completion
of the cure is grudged by the great majority of middle and
working class patients. To overcome these difficulties Tuberculosis
Dispensaries have been established in some districts.
The control and eradication of Tuberculosis mean far more than
the treatment of a certain limited number of patients. It means
not only the cure of those already affected by the disease, but
the safe-guarding of others from infection. Past efforts have
been almost entirely concerned with the treatment of these
already infected, and very little attention has been given to
preventive measures. The whole question will have to be
reconsidered when the result of the above-mentioned inquiry has
been made known, and further proposals will be laid before the
Council.