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are held for consultation between the Dispensary Resettlement
Officer and the Chest Physicians, with the patients present at the
Clinic. Questions concerning return to work or training for
suitable employment can then be discussed fully from all aspects.
The continued inadequacy of hospital beds for cases of
Pulmonary Tuberculosis gives rise to concern.
Tuberculosis is pre-eminently a "community" disease and
"a continuing" infection, especially in the case of the elderly
infectious and incurable patient who is so often in intimate contact
with children and under conditions of overcrowding.
Every attempt is made to ease such cases by granting priority
in regard to rehousing.
Equally essential are beds for the early case in its curable stage.
Bye-Law as to Spitting
During the year your Council decided to take all possible
action to try to prevent the very objectionable habit of spitting
in public places.
Finally, during the current year, a bye-law was approved,
making it an offence to spit on the floor, side, or wall of any public
carriage or of any public hall, public waiting room or place of public
entertainment.
Unfortunately this bye-law does not extend to public and
private highways where the offence is most common and
objectionable.
Walthamstow Association of Tuberculosis Care Helpers.—
Miss A. Woolgar, Secretary of the Association, has contributed
a very full report on the work and activities. These include propaganda,
the loan of sick-room equipment, provision of clothing prior
to admission to sanatorium and replacements in long-term cases.
Assistance in regard to clothing is also obtained through the
Assistance Board, the British Red Cross Society and the S.S.A.F.A.
Financial assistance with extra nourishment is provided by
means of vouchers for milk and/or grocery, the grocery vouchers
being mainly used where there is a family of children or in the
case of old age pensioners.
The Association also arranges for convalescence for "contact"
children at West Mersea, and help is given in some cases with
regard to fares for relatives visiting patients in sanatoria.
A considerable amount of general welfare work is undertaken
and the Area Officer of the Assistance Board has, on several
occasions, used the Association as a supervising agency for the
spending of special grants made for clothing and furniture.