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Repot t of Tuberculosis Officer—continued.
in every family where there is even one member suffering, or who
has suffered from this disease (sometimes there have been two,
three or even four) the remainder need better food and conditions
to maintain their powers of resistance, than normally healthy
families with a clean bill of health. This year, therefore, we
have had to be more vigilant, and on the watch for distress than
ever before. Our usual friends have responded nobly to our calls
for aid.
Our main sources of help are the local organisations, private
and public, and are so well known that we need not enumerate
them.
The approximate value, as nearly as we can estimate, of grants
received for individual cases this year, amounts to £230. The
actual value probably exceeds this sum. In addition, we have
also received parcels of worn clothing from kind friends.
The purposes for which the grants were given are diverse and
manifold. For an ex-musician, a violin was obtained. Substantial
weekly allowances have been granted to families. Grants
for help in homes where the mother has been too ill to fulfill her
usual household duties, have been provided. Separate beds have
been given, clothing and nourishments have been allowed, together
with other forms of help, too numerous to mention.
We realise the responsibility that devolves upon us in connection
with our appeals, and appreciate the confidence placed in us
by these societies. We earnestly endeavour to be fair to the
applicant by not asking for too little, and just to the giver by not
asking for too much.
With regard to children boarded out, although we have to report
that eight children were accepted for boarding out this year, under
the County Council's Scheme for Contacts, none were actually
sent away. In the case of four children, the patient died before
the arrangements were completed, and in the other four cases,
the parents withdrew their consent.
These figures vary from year to year for no apparent reason.
It will be remembered perhaps, that last year 13 children were
sent away.