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59
Norton has kindly supplied the following particulars of new cases
dealt with during the year :—
Number of persons seen who were either
tuberculous or suspected of being
tuberculous 61
Number of contacts, chiefly children 33
A certain amount of overlapping of visits by the Officers of
the County and Local Authorities appears to be inevitable. Where
two authorities are concerned, one with the prevention of the spread
of infection and the other with the treatment of the patients, overlapping
must occur, but every endeavour is being made to diminish
this as far as possible by arrangements with the tuberculosis
officer.
The control of tuberculosis is beset with many difficulties, and
on the whole must be considered somewhat disappointing. On
account of the length of the illness and the fact that many patients
are sufficiently well to be able to follow some employment, they
frequently change their residence often without warning and other
persons occupy the house or rooms before any disinfection can be
carried out.
Considerable discussion has taken place for some years past as
to the ultimate value of treatment in Sanatoria.
Unfortunately almost every patient treated in a Sanatorium has
to return after varying periods into surroundings which are unsatisfactory
both hygienically and economically.
The patient, if a wage earner, is either unable to work or if
able to be employed has to choose an occupation other than that
previously followed. The result is that the weight gained while in
the sanatorium is usually lost and the money expended on
sanatorium treatment is practically thrown away. This has been
our experience in numerous cases, and one cannot help thinking
that, given fair surroundings, a similar sum of money expended in