33§ 
State  Control  of  Diseases. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
\       July,  1910. 
thirteen  assistants,  and  one  to  five  nurses  according  to  the  number  of 
patients  under  treatment,  and  is  open  at  convenient  hours,  day  or 
evening,  to  accommodate  the  occupational  demands  of  those  who  are 
able  or  who  are  compelled  to  work.  The  location  has  been  deter- 
mined with  a  view  of  reaching  the  most  populous  centres.  The 
great  object  of  the  dispensary  is  to  reach  each  individual  case  of 
tuberculosis  and  by  competent  medical  advice,  treatment  and  super- 
vision ameliorate  or  entirely  relieve  the  physical  condition  and  at  the 
same  time  to  educate  the  people  as  to  the  communicable  character  of 
this  disease,  to  the  end  that  others  may  not  become  infected  through 
ignorance  or  carelessness.  The  dispensary  nurses  are  required  to 
make  visits  to  the  homes  of  dispensary  patients  and  advise  as  to  the 
methods  of  personal  hygiene  and  home  sanitation ;  instruct  non- 
infected  persons  of  the  household  as  to  the  dangers,  and  how  to 
avoid  infection  ;  to  spread  the  doctrine  of  fresh  air,  sunlight,  rest, 
proper  foods,  temperate  habits,  and  compliance  with  the  instructions 
of  the  medical  advisers  ;  and  at  the  same  time  to  discover  unsus- 
pected cases. 
In  all  the  larger  dispensaries  the  "  class  system  "  has  been  in- 
augurated. Under  this  system  classes  are  organized  among  the 
patients,  each  of  which  contains  not  over  twenty-five  members.  The 
number  of  classes  varies,  being  governed  by  the  needs  of  the  individ- 
ual dispensary.  The  classes  meet  at  regular  intervals,  some  weekly, 
but  usually  every  two  weeks.  The  members  are  instructed  to  take 
and  record  their  own  temperature,  pulse  and  respiration.  This  they 
do  as  frequently  as  the  class  leader  may  direct.  Not  only  do  the 
patients  record  these  particulars,  but  they  are  also  instructed  to 
make  careful  notes  of  their  condition,  feelings  and  actions.  Memo- 
randum books  are  supplied  for  this  purpose. 
At  the  class  meetings  patients  are  encouraged  to  converse  among 
themselves  and  compare  notes  as  to  their  experience.  The  note 
books  are  submitted  to  the  inspection  of  the  class  leader,  who  care- 
fully reviews  each  one.  Faults  are  pointed  out,  and  misfortunes  dis- 
cussed with  a  view  of  avoiding  their  repetition  and  minimizing 
unfavorable  consequences.  Often  the  ingenuity  of  one  patient  will 
be  of  great  assistance  in  solving  the  difficult  problems  of  another. 
Patients  are  weighed  and  the  result  commented  upon. 
Indigent  dispensary  patients  are  supplied  with  nitrogenous  food- 
stuffs in  the  shape  of  milk  and  eggs.  In  addition  to  food  supplies 
the  dispensaries  furnish  liberal  quantities  of  paper  napkins  and 
