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102
or to give our patient the care and attention she required. It was
ascertained that a complete rest and change would help her to
regain her health. Steps to obtain the necessary grant to pay for
convalescence were taken, and the woman was sent away for a
period of six weeks.
(3) An ex-service man with a small pension, who had worked
up a little business round (selling magazines and books) had the
opportunity of renting or buying a stationery lock-up stall, which
would enable him to add to his business and increase his profits,
which he took. A rent of 5s. a week was charged, as he could
not pay a lump sum down to purchase. This came to the knowledge
of the Care Committee who watched results for a period
and found that from the beginning our patient had covered
expenses and made a small profit. From a business point of view
it was obviously foolish to continue to hire the stall as a sum
which would amount to less than one year's rent would purchase
it. On the recommendation of the Committee a loan of £10 was
obtained from an ex-service men's organisation, and the stall was
purchased, the Committee undertaking to collect a weekly refund
of 5s. a week. Payments have been made regularly by the man
and are now almost completed : when they are, his income will
be increased by 5s. a week, and the stall will be his own. More
than a mere financial gain has been achieved. The effect on the
man, both physically and mentally, is very marked; the development
of his little business has given him a big interest in life and
made him, with his pension, completely self-supporting without
undue strain. We must add that before action was taken it was
ascertained that the case was a non-infectious one, that disease
was considered to have been arrested, and that with reasonable
care it might be assumed that he could keep fit to carry on his
work.
Public Health (Prevention of Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1925.
It was not found necessary to take any action in relation to any tuberculous
employee in the milk trade.