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The disease is caused by a special germ or microbe which
may be taken into the system in several ways. Amongst others
it is generally contracted in otherwise healthy persons by inhalation
of the dust containing the germ or microbe of the disease derived
from the dried expectoration or phlegm of persons suffering from
consumption.
All persons suffering from consumption should expectorate
either into the fire or a vessel containing disinfectants such as
carbolic acid or into rags or paper which should be afterwards
burned. They should especially abstain from expectorating
phlegm or spitting on the floors of houses or vehicles or in public
places.
The disease may also be contracted by partaking of meat or
milk of tubercular animals especially of the cow, therefore all
meat should be properly cooked and all milk, including condensed
milk, boiled before being given to children in every instance.
Milk so treated is as nourishing and palatable as new milk, and
it need only be brought to the boiling point for a minute,
prolonged boiling being unnecessary.
A further mode of contracting the disease is by sleeping in a
room which is or has been inhabited by a person suffering from
consumption. Therefore if possible all persons suffering from
this disease should have a separate bedroom, the windows of
which should be kept open as long as possible daily.
After the death or removal of a person suffering from
consumption the room should be disinfected, the wall paper
stripped and the ceilings whitewashed. Disinfection will be
performed in such cases by the Vestry's staff, free of charge, upon
application at the Public Health Department, Municipal Buildings,
Town Hall Road, where disinfectants will also be supplied to
the poor, without charge, in cases where the same cannot
otherwise be obtained.