View report page

37
Beyond this work' the District Council, on their own initiative,
have augmented the service by admitting to their hospital cases
which require nursing care, whether prior or subsequent to sanatorium
treatment; on an average about 25 cases per annum have
been dealt with, but during the year under review the number was
10 only. Six shelters have been provided by the County Council
for this purpose.
The experience of the use of these beds does suggest that it
would be advisable for all patients to be admitted to such an institution
before being referred to the Sanatorium proper. The
Dispensary as a clearing house for this purpose is not a success.
Army experience and the success of the L.C.C., who have adopted
a similar principle, suggest that the admission for fourteen days
to such an institution before being transferred would enhance the
use of Sanatoria considerably and might obviate the necessity for
further buildings.
Two cases were transferred to Farm Colonies through the
Ministry of Pensions. Lastly, the dying consumptive is provided
for by the Poor Law Authorities. Although this agency is
largely used, still a strong sentimental objection exists against
it. It has been suggested that the increase in the number who
seek admission to the Infirmary during the past 50 years may
have been a. factor in the decrease in the death-rate and it has
been used as an argument for more rigid segregation, but in so
far as evidence has already been given, which seems to indicate
that the disease is as prevalent now as it was 100 years ago (in
spite of decrease in the death-rate), this contention cannot be upheld.
Perhaps it may be of use to make a few short deductions from
the foregoing, relative to their bearing on administrative action:—
(1) All, with few exceptions, are infected by about the
14th year (tuberculin tests).
(2) After that date the infection factor can be ignored
(conjugal phthisis).