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68.
Typical Cases.
A. attended the Dispensary in the autumn of 1928. He
had been working as a butler-valet in the country, where he
had a cottage to himself but found life dull so came up to
Town. He obtained work but he, his wife and three children
had now to live in one room, which they furnished on the hire
purchase system and he soon broke down in health and had
to be sent to Colindale Hospital. The Guardians provided
for the family but the question of the furniture was a different
matter. A debt of over £12 remained and as it was quite
impossible for the wife to meet the weekly payments, she
feared she would have it all taken from her. Help, however,
was obtained, both from the National Society for the Prevention
of Tuberculosis and from the Charity Organisation
vSociety, the latter not only making up the amount owing but
obtaining a discount of over £2 from the Furniture Company
on guaranteeing payment within two weeks. A. was still
away at the end of the year and was reported to be getting on
well.
B. was a girl of 18 with a very bad family history though
she herself was not a notified case. Early in the year her
favourite sister died of tuberculosis and the shock preyed so
on her mind that she was rapidly losing ground. She was
referred to the Charity Organisation Society for convalescence,
a bright, cheerful Home being particularly requested. The
C.O.S. kindly sent her away to the seaside for three weeks
and she returned a different person, having enjoyed herself
very much and feeling fit to start work again.
C. was the eldest of four brothers, all of whom moved
into Fulham to live with relatives as their father had died
from tuberculosis and their mother was dying of the same
complaint. The youngest boy, still of school age, had been
in High Wood Sanatorium and it was this which brought
the family to the notice of the Dispensary. The elder brothers
were all examined as "contacts" and C. was found to be a
positive case while the second brother was also notified. Both
were sent to sanatorium together where the younger did verv
well indeed and was discharged at the end of thirteen weeks.
The elder, who had no income at all of his own and was
dependent for pocket-money on his brothers determined also
to take his discharge, very much against medical advice.
I he Care Committee were able to arrange through the Charity
Organisation Society lor a weekly allowance to be sent him
for the four weeks' extension which was at first offered and
when this was again extended, the help was continued till he
was considered fit for discharge. The brothers have now
moved away into another Borough but the last news we had
of them was satisfactory.