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58
Mitcham, Beddington and Wallington Tuberculosis Care
Committee
Functions of the Committee
1. To alleviate want or distress amongst tuberculosis people,
providing, where necessary, extra nourishment, clothing, bedding,
coal, surgical appliances, travelling expenses and help in the
home.
2. To care for the families of patients in sanatoria so that
their changed economic circumstances shall not result in impaired
health, and that the sufferer shall not be harassed by undue
anxiety.
Christmas gifts were given to hardship cases.
Dried milk, drinking chocolate and invalid foods, from the
Dominions, were supplied to numerous patients.
Scabies
A clinic for the diagnosis of this condition has been held by
the Medical Officer of Health each morning at Mitcham Court. I
am pleased to report that the number of cases requiring treatment
was practically halved. Efforts have been made to obtain
the co-operation, not only of the patient, but of the whole family,
and all have been treated when possible.
In order that treatment might be given after 6 p.m., the
Cleansing Station at the Western Road First Aid Post was
adapted for treatment, and has been in use since June, 1944.
Members of the family who are at work are loth to lose time from
work for treatment, especially if they have few or no symptoms.
Usually treatment was with benzyl benzoate lotion 25 per
cent., and this has given very good results. Female patients
have been treated by a nurse on the staff, and the men have been
treated by a male attendant who has received special training.
No disinfection of clothing or bedding, other than washing,
has been recommended, and the results have justified the adoption
of this course.