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the former Tuberculosis Officer at the London Chest Hospital
Tuberculosis Dispensary for Bethnal Green and part of Hackney.
Stormont House was destroyed by bombing during the 1939-1945
war.
The Hackney Council's tuberculosis dispensary in connection
with the Metropolitan Hospital was opened on the 28th July, 1915
and that at the London Chest Hospital on the 20th September,
1915. The Tuberculosis Officer who was appointed at the Metropolitan
Hospital Tuberculosis Dispensary when the Dispensary
was opened contracted pulmonary tuberculosis and died of the
disease. He was followed by Dr. Hamilton, who was followed
by Dr. Rees, the present Tuberculosis Officer. Dr. Howell was
Tuberculosis Officer from the establishment of the London Chest
Hospital Tuberculosis Dispensary until 1947 and was followed by
Dr. Caplin, the present Tuberculosis Officer.
A permanent Joint Tuberculosis Care Committee for the
Boroughs of Hackney and Stoke Newington was appointed in
1919 to supersede the interim committee set up in 1915, and the
provision of auxiliary treatment—food, clothing, care of the family
as far as funds could be raised, and a handicraft class—was introduced
later but all funds administered by the care committee had
to be raised from voluntary sources. The Borough Council, however,
was permitted to meet the cost of extra food generally, milk
and eggs, beds, blankets, sputum mugs and, of course, disinfection
and to provide portable shelters for placing in gardens as an adjunct
to sanatorium treatment. Six shelters were obtained in 1920.
In 1921 functions of the Insurance Committee as regards the
provision of treatment for insured persons were transferred to the
London County Council, so that the London County Council became
entirely responsible for the provision of sanatorium treatment
which was granted free of cost to the patient in 1934 and subsequently;
prior to 1934 the tuberculosis care committees assessed
the contribution to be made by patients. The London County
Council became partly responsible for the provision of dispensary
treatment, although direct responsibility for providing dispensaries
and appointing Tuberculosis Officers and Tuberculosis
Health Visitors was laid upon the Borough Council. A scheme for
extra nourishment came into force on the 6th June, 1921 and 59
cases received assistance during the first year at a cost of £135 3s. 5d.
In 1923 a happening in Hackney resulted in steps being taken
to prevent the spread of tuberculosis by infected milk. This
arose as follows:—
A milk roundsman collapsed in the street in Hackney and died
from pulmonary tuberculosis. This was not a notified case and
was, therefore, prior to the man's death, unknown to the Public