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29
of the shareholders. Why should they, they ask, employ men with 50 per
cent. capacity for work, when they can have their choice of strong and healthy
men who are unemployed. I know of only five persons who have found
such employment through the agency of the Stepney Tuberculosis Care
Committees. This is partly due to the fact that they have no funds except
from voluntary sources. The After Care Committees inaugurated a
handicraft class at St. George's Dispensary. The class is held on Thursday
afternoons, from 2.30 to 4.30. There are eighteen on the roll call, and an
average of about twelve attend. All these patients have been to sanatoria
and were unable or unfit to resume their own work. Several are ex-Service
pensioners and live are female patients. Some are engaged in the manufacture
of simple leather bags, etc., some on Raffia work, such as mats, and one is
engaged in designing work such as flower designs on bowls and patterns of
leather work. The teacher is paid by the London County Council and the
class is affiliated to the Dalston Literary Institute. Friends of the patients,
nurses and members of the Committee have up to the present bought all
the articles manufactured. Tools and implements are bought out of the
profits so that work can be carried on at their own home as well. A jumble
sale realised £40, which formed the original capital.
The Committee appreciated the work done by the Care Committee in
this direction, but they were of opinion it should be extended. A subcommittee
was appointed to go further into the matter. The Committee
consulted the Tuberculosis Officers who were of the opinion that no scheme
could be devised which was self-supporting among the type of Tuberculosis
patients that the scheme would draw in this Borough. The amount of
absenteeism would be so great that to be at all successful the scheme would
require a sum which would be prohibitive, and they thought that the handicraft
class should be given an extended trial.
Dental Clinic.
The Dental Clinic at 35, Stepney Green, for the treatment of tuberculous
patients, expect and nursing mothers and children under school age, has
continued its work on the same lines as in previous years.
During the year a constant attendance of patients has been maintained.
The total number of attendances recorded; is 376,—representing an
average of a little over 7 per session. Of this number 196 have been expectant
or nursing mothers, 56 children under school age and 124 tuberculous patients,