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Tuberculosis Administration. 43
Compared with 1910, when only 17 cases of this disease were
notified, it proves the absolute futility of voluntary notification. In
September 1911, the Barnes Urban District Council opened a
Tuberculosis Dispensary in the grounds of their Isolation Hospital,
and up to the end of that year 22 cases attended for diagnosis and
treatment. This year (1912) 58 additional cases have attended and
have been given diagnostic or therapeutic doses of tuberculin. This
Dispensary was probably the first of its kind to be started in an
urban district, and has been of great benefit to the residents.
In addition to this work, literature has been distributed to all
cases, disinfections made, sputum cups supplied, the expectoration
examined in the council's laboratory, and contacts have been either
visited at home or asked to attend at the Dispensary. A detailed
record has been kept of every person attending the Dispensary.
From this small beginning the Council's work has gradually
extended, and at the present time there exists what does not exist
in any other urban district, nor in many counties.
(a) A hospital containing nine beds for all acute and established
cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis, under the care of a Sister trained
in tuberculosis.
(b) A dispensary opened two days a week for two hours each
day for treatment, and to act as a clearing house for a future course
of treatment.
(c) A sanatorium containing three beds with two additional
shelters for the use of patients requiring open-air treatment chiefly,
and for early cases.
(d) A laboratory where bacteriological work can be done without
the loss of time involved by sending specimens away by post.
Under the Sanatorium Benefit part of the Insurance Act, the