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on chronic rheumatism. How many people are suffering from rheumatism
simply because there is no half-yearly dental inspection ? Look
at the suggestion they make that rheumatism is more especially a poor
man's disease. We need more research. Is the poor man rheumatic
because he is underfed and wrongly fed, or because his nervous system
is deranged with worry, the lack of sunshine, good housing and an
annual holiday ? We read that some cases of rheumatism could be
cured with a vaccine. Is the cost of a vaccine within the reach of the
conductor of that tramway car passing my window ?
We need a broader basis, greater facilities for all, team work and
consultation centres. We need convalescent homes and holiday centres.
In short, we need more preventive medicine for the benefit of the
public health.
Summary of Nursing Arrangements, Hospitals and
other Institutions Available for the District.
Professional Nursing in the Home.—General, (l) There is one
nursing home in the Borough, situated in Tressillian Road, Hilly
Fields, Brockley, to which surgical and medical cases are sent by
medical practitioners. On emergency, a maternity case can be taken
to this home, but surgical and medical cases form the greater bulk of
those admitted. Nurses can be obtained from this home to visit at the
patients' own houses. No definite statement can be made, but as
Deptford is an industrial area chiefly, it is likely that very few surgical
and not many serious medical cases are treated in the patients' own
homes.
(2) The St. John the Divine Nursing Association, situated in
Watson Street, New Cross Road, is recognised as a power for good.
The staff consists of a sister-in-charge, two general trained nurses and
two certified C.M.B's. All live in. Their services are obtained through
doctors, clergymen and private persons. The staff covers a wide field
in its operations and touches upon a portion of Greenwich at Creek
Road and Princes Street. Practically the whole of Deptford is covered
excepting St. John's and Brockley. This Association is honoured by
all and simply cannot be dispensed with.
(3) St. John's and the Congregational Church in Lewisham High
Road enjoy the services of a nurse who resides in Upper Brockley
Road. No midwifery is undertaken.