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104
overcome, continuous frequent infections over a period may
break down resistance, particularly in infants and adolescents. but
apart from those age-groups, the development of active disease in
adults is mainly due to endogenous exacerbation of an existing
lesion.
"It is not my intention that you should think that infection
does not matter, on the contrary, it means that the utmost care
must be exercised to prevent primary infection and reduce
frequent droplet infection to the minimum, because who can
know the state of his neighbour's resistance to infection, or
whether any particular infection will be a primary one. I must
emphasise that we ourselves who work among the tuberculous
can be fairlv certain that we shall not break down with tuberculosis
if we observe the rules that lead to general good health and
are sure that we are tuberculin positive. There is, among the
general population at present, an exaggerated fear of infection
very often in the age-groups that are least susceptible, whereas
precautionary measures are not always taken to the extent they
might be to protect the groups that are most vulnerable, namely
the infants, adolescents and tuberculin-negative persons.
"The control of tuberculous infection is largely a matter of
commonsense, to which must be added the knowledge that it is
the individual's inherent resistance to the infection that mainly
decides the development of disease. It is therefore necessary, at
all times, and by all means, to maintain this resistance at the
highest possible level, as well as to capture and kill the bacillus
wherever we may find him outside the body."
CONVALESCENCE FOR ADULTS
The total of cases sent away for recuperative convalescence was
66. The length of convalescence was five days in one case, one
week in two cases, two weeks in 62 cases, and three weeks in one
case. One patient discharged herself after a stay of only five days.
Recovery of cost or part-cost was made.
SICK-ROOM EQUIPMENT
There are two main depots for sick-room equipment, one at
the District Nurses' Home in Carisbrooke Road and the other at
the British Red Cross Society Headquarters in Forest Road.
During the year routine issues were made of items of equipment
such as bed-pans, thermometers and feeding cups, etc.
Special items of equipment are provided when necessary.
Several gifts of invalid chairs were made by a Member of the
Health Area Sub-Committee.