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This shews again that the principal incidence of Phthisis is
in the middle years of life, and that other forms of Tuberculosis
are chiefly fatal in infancy.
At the middle years of life, viz.:—15-44 years of age, out of
a total of 135 deaths registered for the Borough, 41, or nearly
one-third, were due to Phthisis alone.
Notification of Phthisis.—The Local Government Board
have made regulations which make it the duty of every Medical
Practitioner to notify every case of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
occurring in the course either of his public or private practice.
The first step was taken in 1908, when oases of Phthisis
occurring among the inmates of poor law institutions, or under
the care of poor law district medical officers, were made notifiable.
In March, 1911, an extension of the system of notification of
Phthisis was put into effect by Regulations which provided for
the notification of cases of Phthisis occurring amongst the inpatients
or out-patients under treatment at Hospitals supported
by voluntary contributions.
At the end of 1911 the system was completed by further
Regulations made by the Local Government Board making it
compulsory for Medical Practitioners to notify cases of Phthisis
occurring in the course of private practice. The regulations came
into operation on January 1st, 1912. During 1911 I have had
11 cases of Phthisis notified to me under the Poor Law regulations,
and 45 cases under the Hospital regulations.
In each case a visit or visits have been paid to the house of
the patient. In those cases where the patient had not been
admitted into the Workhouse or a Hospital or Sanatorium, verbal
and printed directions were given as to the avoidance of the spread
of infection, and where necessary disinfection of rooms or articles
of bedding, clothing, etc., has been carried out (see Appendix).
Similar preventive measures are carried out in other cases of
Phthisis brought to my knowledge, when they appear necessary
or desirable,