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26
REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE TUBERCULOSIS
DISPENSARY.
The regulations concerning the administration, both professional
and clerical, of Tuberculosis schemes issued by the Ministry
of Health in Memo. 37/T of November, 1926, have already during
the year 1927 begun to show results which are at once both encouraging
and valuable. The main purpose of the Memorandum
37/T was to systematise the methods, standardise classifications
and codify the results of the various Tuberculosis schemes approved
by the Ministry on behalf of the 156 local authorities
recognised to deal with the disease. During the year, the Ministry
of Health has been able for the first time since the initiation of
the National Scheme for the Treatment of Tuberculosis to make
a comprehensive survey of the work done under the scheme of
each Local Authority. Such a survey has been based upon the
returns furnished for 1926 by the Local Authorities. These have
been scrutinized and analysed and the results published in
Memo. 131/T of the Ministry.
This memorandum, under 46 different headings, is an attempt
to analyse the more important items in the returns for the year
1926, in relation to the figures as to population, notifications of
Tuberculosis and the death-rates from Tuberculosis in each area.
Its scope therefore is wide, as its character is national, but its
interest and value are local as its scrutiny is close. Nationally
it gives the percentage of all T.B. cases; locally it gives a comparison
of the results obtained in each area. This provides an
opportunity for each area to amend whatever portion of its
approved scheme may be defective, and to pursue with zest whatever
portion of its scheme is praiseworthy and efficient. Above
all, it ensures within certain limits a basis upon which each
Authority may determine whether the maximum results are being
obtained for its financial outlay.
Different Authorities vary enormously in the particular difficulties
they have to overcome in order that their schemes may
fulfil the function they were instituted primarily to perform.
Tuberculosis schemes should pay as much attention (if not more)
to the prevention of disease as to its egrly recognition and ready