New Britain herald., 1916-04-13

to the doctors quicker than If but one alone were to do the work. During the year 1874 cultures were examined for diphtheria bac- 1lll; 148 sputums were examined for tubercular bacilIi; 63 bloods were examined for typhoid fever; 33 mis- cellaneOus examinations and 671 samples of milk were examined chemically.
 It is expected that during this year the laboratory will be fitted to under take to make examinations of blood for diseases other than those men, toned.
 The control of quarantinable dis eases by having such cases visited by the Welfare Nurse has proven most helpful all around. At first the ob- ject of the department was mis- | understood by some of the physi- clans, but the majority of the doc tors not only took kindly to such | cases of contagion in order to give instructions regarding quarantine. etc.
 Our records include not only the kind of disease but the number of cases reported by each physician during the year.
 The system of taking cultures from the throats of all children in house in which diphtheria exists was instituted after the Welfare Nurse was added to the department. Previous to the instituting of this method, all children in the same house were excluded from school. Now we allow such children to at- tend school if their throats are diphtheria negative. Carriers of the disease are often detected by this system of taking throat cultures. During the past year we have had one or more "carriers'' under ob- servation almost continuously.
 The epidemic of measles that has been so marked during the past three months tends to show the need of parents awakening to the fact that this disease is not a simple, but a dangerous, one, especially among patients under the age of five years. The Town Clerks records show that deaths from measles have occurred during the present epidemic It is depressing to think that in all prob ability these deaths would not have occurred if mothers would not as sume that their children have to have measles some time or other.
 
 measles, which accounted for three Of the deaths, is diphthera.
 report of the number of con- tagious cases occurring during the year is incorporated in the report of the Welfare Nurse.
 Tuberculosis Work.
 l submit to you the full report of the Tuberculosis Nurse, in which she so clearly sets forth the scope of her work. Having some knowledge of the work she is doing to alleviate the misery caused by tuberculosis, I cannot but be glad tht we have the opportunity to aid financially in many worthy cases. Yet, I am com ing to believe that the method in vogue for caring for tuberculosis cases is far from satisfactory from either a physical or a f1nincial point of view. At present we give bedside care, and assist financially in caring for the patients in sanatoria. Many of the cases with which we have to deal are wage earners who, because of their illness, have been unable to work steadily, if at all and, therefore. need both physical and financial help. In such instances, to merely place the
  pense and leave his family without sufficient means of support tends to detract most of the good the sana- torium life might do, for the need of a contented mind is as essential as is fresh air in the treatment of tuber- culosis. In my opinion, the remedy l is the establishing of some kind of 1 an association as an insurance to l take full care of such cases as re- | ferred to.
 am convinced of the need of a 1 tuberculosis clinic to which arrested | cases could report to be checked up, and suspicious cases thoroughly eX- | amined and re-eXamined and frankly advised as to their condition. To see case after case kept under observa- ton by some practitioner, while he waits until the germ is found: or to see tuberculosis cases treated for malaria, bronchitis, etc, makes one long for the time when they who l should know will have the moral l courage to state their convictions. ! During the past two years I have seen more than one untimely death 1 among young adults due to waiting l for the bug to show up,' when, had the victims been given the benefit of 1 the doubt, they would in all prob l ability today be on the road to full recovery Thank Heaven, the ma = iority of the doctors in New Britain are professionally broad minded and have the true welfare of the patient at heart But the man who con- siders his patients sense of feelings too sensitive to tell them they ahe tu- bercular is not worthy to be in the oin hn hn ic 1 brought to this opinion, the sooner 1 shall we have some grounds to hope l for tuberculosis control
 Under the able guidance of my chief assistant, the sanitary investi- .ial I1r la; Ia ic