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90
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Scheme in force since 1913. As shown in Table LI., a larger
number of cases have been referred to the Hospital under this
arrangement than in previous years, and the reports forwarded
have been of great value. The Scheme has been extended to
include the treatment of Lupus by Finsen Light or X Rays.
Arrangements have also been made with the Hospital for Consumption,
Brompton, for supplying refills to patients who have
been treated by the artificial pneumothorax method.
Dental Treatment.—The agreement with the British Dentists'
Hospital, for providing dental treatment, including the provision
of dentures, has been in force throughout the year. 35
patients received dental treatment and 20 of them were supplied
with dentures. The attendances at the dentist totalled 132.
Extra Nourishment.—On June 22nd, 1921, the Council
decided to supply extra nourishment to persons suffering from
Tuberculosis, under Section 3 of the Public Health (Prevention
and Treatment of Disease) Act, 1913. The maximum amount
which can be spent in any one year is £2 per 1,000 population,
i.e., £650 for the Borough. The scheme was approved by the
Ministry of Health and has been in operation during the last
three months of the year. It provides that the nourishment be
granted on medical grounds only, and be considered as part of
treatment. It is limited to the slighter cases of disease, where
there is a reasonable probability that extra nourishment will increase
the chances of recovery, or will enable the patient to
remain at work, or to return to work at an early date. Ex-service
men receiving extra nourishment through the Ministry of
Pensions are not eligible. Any articles of diet considered
necessary for the particular individual can be ordered, provided
the total cost per patient does not exceed ten shillings a week.
The financial circumstances of each case are investigated and
steps are taken to ensure, as far as possible, that the articles of
diet ordered are consumed by the patient. Up to the end of the
year 14 patients were granted extra nourishment under the
scheme at a cost of £32 8s. 9d.