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The Regulations of 1925 provide for the compulsory discontinuance of a
person suffering from infectious respiratory tuberculosis from employment involving
the handling or treatment of milk, and are enforceable by local authorities. No
action was taken under them during the year.
(b) Shelters.—The Council maintain twelve shelters for the use of patients
returning from sanatoria who are able and willing to continue this form of treatment.
They are of special design to allow of their easy transport and introduction
into gardens. Full use is not made of them, possibly because patients dislike being
overlooked by neighbours. In many cases they are loaned free of charge, but in
some instances a small rent, usually sixpence per week, is paid.
(c) Bacteriological Examinations.—Any general practitioner in the Borough
may send specimens of sputum from suspected cases of tuberculosis to the Seamen's
Hospital, Greenwich, at the cost of the Council. During the year 2,178 specimens
were examined there, 291 being positive and 1,887 negative. In addition to these
arrangements, however, examinations of specimens of sputum are carried out at
the laboratory attached to the Dispensary, and during the year 732 specimens
were examined, 110 of which were positive and 622 negative.
(d) Tuberculosis Dispensary.—The Tuberculosis Dispensary is in Maxey Road,
Plumstead. Consultations are held there, special times being allotted to men,
women and children. These hours are set out in tabular form below. The total
number of attendances at the Dispensary during 1930 was 4,657. In this connection
it is interesting to point out that 225 of the persons notified during 1930 attended
the Dispensary, which is equivalent to 78.6 per cent. The corresponding percentage
in 1929 was 82.78.
A return of the work of the Dispensary is given in Table No. 69,