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In England it has only recently been adopted in a few towns. In Manchester, Brighton and
Sheffield it has been attended with successful results. It has also been recently adopted in the
adjoining Borough of Finsbury. I have information of sixteen towns in England where voluntary
notification is now practised, but in about half of them only within the past twelve months. In those
towns in which no fees have been allowed, it has naturally not been a success.
I therefore think that it is desirable for your Council to adopt this system of voluntary
notification and the same fees paid as for notifiable diseases.
DISINFECTION OF ROOMS.
Many experiments have proved that the dust of rooms in which a consumptive person has been
living is generally infected with the germs of tuberculosis. Rooms occupied by consumptives ought
therefore to be cleansed at least once a week by using wet dusters and wet tea leaves or sawdust.
When the consumptive removes to a sanatorium, hospital, or other premises, or dies, the room ought
to be thoroughly disinfected as after other infectious diseases.
SANATORIA.
Proper Sanatoria for the open air treatment of Consumption ought to be provided by the
Boards of Guardians, instead of sending consumptives as at present to the general infirmaries. At a
meeting of the representatives of the Metropolitan Guardian Boards at St. Martin's Town Hall last
year, this subject was discussed and agreed to and referred to the Local Government Board, with a
view to the necessary steps being taken by that Board for the carrying out of the proposal. This
Council as Sanitary Authority might assist by writing to the Guardian Boards of the Borough and
the Local Government Board, advocating the above proposal.
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF SPUTUM.
As the sputum or expectoration of consumptives often contains large numbers of the germs of
tuberculosis, before a certain diagnosis can be made by other methods of examination, and prevention
and cure can be more successfully carried out in the early stages of the disease, it is desirable that the
Medical practitioners of the Borough should have facilities for this bacteriological examination given
them by the Council.
I have on previous occasions referred to the general Sanitary measures that assist in the
prevention of consumption.
LEAFLET.
I am glad to report that the Council has consented to a leaflet giving hints on its prevention
being circulated in the Borough. This leaflet is now being printed.
INFLUENZA.
Influenza was the assigned cause of 24 deaths, rather more than the preceding year, when
it was 21.
In St. Sepulchre no death was assigned to this cause, and in Glasshouse Yard only 1.
In London the number of deaths referred to influenza was 1,950, which is the highest number
recorded since 1895.