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87
We as usual append a brief history of a few of the cases assisted
during the year.
(1) A patient was unable to get about otherwise than in a bath chair
of her own which she put to considerable use. Repairs to this became
necessary which could not be carried out owing to lack of means. A
grant was obtained for this purpose; arrangements were made for
another patient (for whom a grant had been obtained to set him up as
a tool smith) to do the work, and the chair has been in constant use
since.
(2) Patient found to be short of bedding. A gift of warm blankets
obtained.
(3) Young girl of 18 returned from sanatorium in an infectious
state ; only available sleeping accommodation at home was a bed shared
with two sisters. Girl was very ill and could not be induced to stay
away from her mother any longer. Bed and bedding was obtained,
an empty room became available through a lodger leaving, and the girl
was made comfortable at home. The Council was asked to board out
a younger sister who remained away until after the patient's death.
(4) Patient, a married woman with two children, refused treatment,
obviously in a distressed nervous state. Friendly questioning by the
Committee finally brought her trouble to light. She was in debt to a
moneylender to the extent of £8 13s. 6d., and was being pressed for
payment; out of a totally inadequate household allowance from her
husband of £1 14s. a week she was trying to pay back a debt at rate of
5s. a week, she herself often going without food to do so. She had
commenced to borrow about four years ago when one of the children
was ill and added to the debt when domestic emergencies arose.
Enquiries were made and personal references obtained from responsible
people who had known her for years, who spoke most highly of her
character. A member of the Committee interviewed the moneylender
and arranged that if the sum of £5 5s. was paid down the debt would
be counted as cleared and a receipt in full given. A big effort was
made and this amount collected from various sources. The woman
went away with an outfit of clothing obtained from a further source
and returned home improved in health to start afresh clear of debt for
the first time for years. And a gratifying feature of this case is that
on her return her husband took over the burden of managing the money