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103
A severe infection in the infant, before powers of resistance had been raised, might cause
fatal disease of pneumonic or meningeal type; but a mild tuberculisation gives rise to but few
symptoms of any importance, and this is no doubt the reason why comparatively few children show
signs of definitely recognisable disease.
The number of small infections received in civilised communities must be considerable, and
tend to raise an individual resistance which is probably of the highest benefit in later years.
Mantoux Tests show that a large number of the children on the Dispensary Register, or
attending for periodical examination, have been infected; but continued supervision fails to reveal
the presence of disease requiring special treatment.
One often feels that more attention and supervision is necessary in the case of "non-reactors"
—as they are an "uncertain quantity," and to this end all such children are seen and re-tested again
and again, for years if possible.
Children who are badly debilitated after illness, contacts, and those who have definitely
been notified and require more active treatment, are recommended for institutional treatment in
Convalescent Homes, Sanatoria or Surgical Homes, through the L.C.C., P.A.C., or the Invalid Children's
Aid Association. This will in most cases tend to arrest disease; and many of the children are
afterwards sent on to special schools according to their specific disability.
Thus many mild gland, pulmonary and other type cases, also contacts, are referred to the
Elizabethan Open Air School in Broomhouse Lane, which has accommodation for sixty boys and girls.
These children, who attend as day scholars, are under constant supervision by one of the
Dispensary Tuberculosis Nurses; and the Tuberculosis Officer is in medical charge, making a weekly
visit to the School at which a number of children are re-examined in rotation, all the children thus
being seen once every five or six weeks.
Classes are held under open air conditions in two specially designed class rooms built in the
garden behind the main building. In severe weather the children are taught in the school hall, whilst
special woodwork and needlework classes are held in an upper school room which is also exceptionally
lofty and spacious.
The daily routine is under the control of the Head Mistress who arranges a very excellent
dietary for the week, and superintends the serving of meals.

Under this regime the children do remarkably well, and there is very little evidence of break
down in their health either during school years or after they have left and are in work.
Convalescence through the I.C.A.A. and other care work.
This Association continues to give most valuable help in dealing with many children who,
although originally referred to the Dispensary for examination, are not found to be suffering from
clinically recognisable disease, but are debilitated and in special need of a holiday away in the country
or at the seaside.