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10
During 1928, a Tuberculosis Handicraft Centre was inaugurated in
the Health Centre. Mrs. Monk has taken a keen interest in this work
and has been a great help to the officials concerned. As always,
many people have been ever so kind. Herein will be found a Report
by Miss E. Malcolm Forth, who has so ably conducted our Tuberculosis
Handicraft Centre. This Centre is our most recent venture, and
students—our patients—are well pleased with the class ; the work
takes them " out of themselves " ; it is a therapeutic measure of value.
Miss Lewellin, Secretary of the Tuberculosis Care Committee, has
again written a Report on her experiences and work. One wonders
how we managed before the Committee was formed.
It will be remembered that I set out, some years ago, to make an
examination of the factories and workshops in the Borough. Each
year I published a description of a number of these trades and businesses
in my Annual Report. It was hoped that in time, all the factories and
workshops would be described. The aim and object was not just the
immediate one of the amelioration of any defects, but to pave the
way ultimately for the publication of a book, dealing in some detail,
with Deptford's industries. A further instalment of visits paid and
descriptions of factories and workshops will be found enclosed; the
materialisation of the hopes expressed above must depend upon the
selective activity of my successors.
Some months ago, I gave the first report on the need of an antirheumatic
clinic, to the Public Health Committee. Paddington and
Kensington, to be sure, very favourably suited for this work, took the
first steps by way of establishing a clinic of the kind. This is work
well worth doing, and I trust it will be considered further.
The establishment of a Cancer Clinic has never appealed to me,
although there is one in an adjacent Borough. We already have two
Hospitals fully equipped with all manner of diagnostic appliances in
the vicinity. If the family doctor has a patient of over forty who has
pain in the stomach or other symptoms, not quickly removed by
ordinary treatment, he knows where to send his case for an X-Ray
examination. Similarly, it is open to any person to walk into our
Hospitals and arrange for an examination. It sounds well to have a
Cancer Clinic, but is it really necessary ?
There is one subject which might well be considered by the
representatives of the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee. I