Report of Council : 42nd / National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis (Great Britain).

  • National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis (Great Britain)
Date:
[1940]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: Report of Council : 42nd / National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis (Great Britain). Source: Wellcome Collection.

    7/40 page 5
    FOOD The resistance of a tuberculous person to the progress of his disease depends very largely on two features of the treatment—rest and proper nutrition. Modern research shows that proper feeding depends on wide variety in diet, provided that certain elements are included, such as protein, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins. When the rationing of meat was introduced the Ministry of Food, acting on expert scientific advice, decided that provided tuberculous people had enough first-class protein from milk, cheese and eggs, they were likely to suffer no harm through a restriction of meat. Of course, it is assumed that milk, cheese and eggs, and what is infelicitously and incorrectly called “‘ offal’’ are readily available. During the latter part of the year all these commodities became scarce, and in institutions the problem of catering became a difficult one. The plight of the tuberculous patient living at home on a low income became grave, as cheese and eggs were often unprocurable, and in the winter months even milk became restricted. The Minister of Food initiated a valuable scheme for an extra ration of milk to mothers and young children. The Association, in view of the above, believes that this might well be extended to tuberculous families. A supply of milk would give the first-class protein necessary, and would go a long way to making up deficiencies of calctum and other substances. Milk is a food not only for tuberculous people but for the whole population, and is a vital necessity. Many Care Committees and Local Authorities include a ration of milk in their regular help to the tuberculous family, but this practice is not universal, and feeding the tuberculous patient is a matter which will become more urgent as the war goes on. An enquiry was made among members of the Tuberculosis Service as to whether the tuberculous population had in fact suffered from the nutritional point of view. Although many Tuberculosis Authorities considered that their patients were not receiving the diet they would recommend in peace-time, others believed that the psychological effects of war, long hours and overstrain were much more important than any deficiencies in nutrition that might exist at the present time. It is an old story that worry affects the appetite and digestion, and tuberculous people are often anxious in temperament, and inclined to take very seriously deprivations which the ordinary man and woman finds easy to bear. These considerations do not in the least diminish the importance of proper nutrition in Tuberculosis, but the national larder is not overstocked, and it is not feasible at the moment to press unduly for what the man in the street may regard as unreasonable privileges. BOYS WILL BE BOYS When youths of 13 to 18 develop Tuberculosis it is worth while to give them extra consideration. The Association’s Colony for such cases is, we believe, the only Institution of its kind in the country, or possibly in the world. A great effort is being made to maintain both the treatment and teaching in the difficult conditions of war-time. The sanatorium is situated in a part of the country which has been the centre of danger, and s)
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