Tuberculosis tragedies

Children were being exposed to the risk of tuberculosis from mothers who had contracted the disease but couldn’t afford to go into hospital.

The warning came from the medical officer of health for Stirlingshire, Dr E Neil Reid in his annual report for 1937, which was not issued until November, 1939.

Speaking about sufferers who were living at home, Dr Reid said several were remained in close contact with their children. Despite all persuasion, they refused hospital admission.

Quoting from Dr Reid’s report, the Observer said: `The reasons for this are various. In some cases it is dislike for sanatorium discipline, in others there is the feeling that they do not progress while in hospital, and the third group – the most pathetic yet the most dangerous – the case of mothers of young families where financial circumstances are such that if the mother went into hospital, the amount of money going into the house is not sufficient to pay for a suitable person to look after the children.

`She therefore remains at home, slowly deteriorating in health and with this becoming more and more infectious to those around her.”

Dr Reid said to tackle the problem in the proper manner, they would have to admit the mother to hospital and at the same time allay her concerns about the care of her children while she is away.

They would require the admission of the children to a sanatorium or home where they would be free from the risk of infection.

However, Dr Reid said there was at that time no such facility in the county for the chidlren of TB sufferers.