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125
At the beginning of the quinquennium the Dispensary was
managed by a Voluntary Committee, but in 1921, owing to
the inability of the Central Fund for the Promotion of Tuberculosis
Dispensaries in London to carry on, the Council took
over the Dispensary and Staff as a going concern. Since that
date the Dispensary has been part of the Health Department
and its activities are fully co-ordinated with general health
work. There were two Medical Officers on the staff at the
time of the change, but in 1923, by means of a re-organisation
of the medical staff, it was possible to arrange for the work
to be done by one and a half medical officers, thus setting
free for other medical services of the Council the half-time
of one of the doctors. In 1923, the Dispenser, who was a
part-time Tuberculosis Visitor, resigned, and, in considering
the steps to fill the vacancy, the Council resolved to substitute
for the appointment the appointment of Clerk-Dispenser.
Otherwise the staff remains unchanged.
During the four years the service has been amplified in the
following respects:—
Arrangements have been entered into with the authorities
of the Brompton Hospital for the induction of artificial
pneumo-thorax, and of the London Hospital for Finsen Light
treatment of tuberculosis. The agreement with the Seamen's
Hospital for the X-ray examination of doubtful cases has
been renewed. Additional nourishment is given in necessitous
cases certified by the Tuberculosis Officer as requiring
this. Dental treatment is now available. A Tuberculosis
Care Committee has been formed. The number of tuberculosis
shelters has been increased by two.
The number of attendances at the Dispensary average
7,000-8,000 a year, while the number of new cases averages
1,200. The vast majority (over 80 per cent.) of those who
make a first visit are non-tuberculous. This large proportion