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71
"That the necessary steps be taken with a view to ordering that
Section 55 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, shall apply
in this Parish to cases-of phthisis." On the 22nd February the
subject was again brought forward for formal approval, but was
held over until the 8th March, when the matter was again
adjourned for a period of six months, being a subject for consideration
at the meeting of the Vestry on the 13th September, when
it was resolved that the matter be referred back to the Health
Committee for further consideration and report.
I subsequently submitted a detailed report on the subject of
the probable causes of tuberculosis, the advantages and difficulties
of notification and the action taken by some other authorities in
regard to notification. The more important and interesting
points of that report I have revised to date as far as possible and
incorporated here.
Advantages The advantages of notification are—firstly, that it is
Notification, from a statistical point of view, the means, and only
means of ascertaining the amount of illness from the disease—
the information at present at the disposal of the Medical Officer of
Health being limited to the extent of the mortality—secondly, of
ascertaining whether particular areas are affected, and consequently
the effect of local conditions, and the adoption of measures to
remedy these conditions; and what is of still greater importance
to enable instruction and guidance to be given just where they
are needed, and to conduct a thorough system of disinfection and
cleansing.
Difficulties of
Compulsory
Notification.
The difficulties of making section 55 of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891, apply to Phthisis are great,
inasmuch as a patient, even in the early stages, when
most are fully capable of earning their own living, would be
prevented from doing so, or even leaving his own house, whereas
it is a fully recognised fact that for the cure of consumptives, to
practically live in the open air is essential. I, however, here
again strongly urge that those suffering from the disease should