View report page

108
1898
is amenable to treatment, mil therefore, may be cured. Whereas, if it he allowed to
advance too far it is not so amenable, or indeed, it may have become incurable.
The bacillux of Tuberculosis has long since been determined, and, therefore, no
difficulty can arise in recognising it, either in the sputum or in the secretions from the
throat.
I am certain that, if you undertake this work, you will confer a great boon oil all
persons who may be threatened with the disease.
I do not think there is any need for me to enlarge on this subject, for I am certain
that my proposal will appeal to every member of this Committee, whose anxiety has ever
been to prevent the causes of death.
What other authorities are doing I am not aware, but I think I am quite safe in saying
that few, if any, have undertaken this work. That they will do so, and before long, I
have not the least doubt, for the force of circumstances will compel them. Let us not
await until then.
I am,
Your obedient Servant,
A. E. HARRTS,
Medical Officer of Health.
Vestry Hall, Upper Street, N.,
19th December, 1898.
The Committee without hesitation adopted the report and since
then diagnoses have been made of many cases. There is no question
but that the action of the Vestry has been very highly appreciated by
all the practitioners in every part of this immense district, and, indeed,
letters of thanks have been received by the Medical Officer for the
speed with which the diagnosis has been made.
FATALITY FROM THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
The fatality from the infectious diseases was 7·6 per cent. of the
total cases, 2,418 in number, of whom 183 died. The fatality rate from
Scarlet Fever was only 1·9 per cent., as against 3·8 per cent. the
preceding year. The fatality from Diphtheria remained practically
what it was in 1898, the rate being 16·4, as compared with 16·9. The
Puerperal Fever fatality rose from 35·7 in the preceding year to 36·8