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damp, being without damp courses to the walls, or ventilation under
basement floors, and without sufficient surrounding space, and not
uncommonly are environed by filthy, unpaved, and undrained yards.
Living in circumstances like these, too often the unhappy victims are
driven to 'the drink,' and thus, whilst finding temporary forgetfulness
of their troubles, only aggravate the effect of the conditions which tend
to the development of the tuberculous state.
"3. Tuberculosis, nevertheless, is preventable, and the means of prevention
are largely within the power of those bodies whose title of Sanitary
Authority, indicates the raison detre of their existence. What these
means are may be briefly indicated:—
(a) Enforcement of the provisions of sanitary law, for the prevention of
overcrowding, and the abatement of nuisances generally, so as to
secure healthy homes for the lower classes; and by systematic
inspection of tenemented houses, and houses let in lodgings.
(b) Education of consumptives as to the danger of spitting about rooms
or in public places, vehicles, etc.,and the necessity of destruction of
expectorated matters by disinfection or preferably by fire: viz., by
the issue of a circular of advice in which also might be explained
the necessity for thorough cooking of meat and boiling of milk.
(c) By advising, and in suitable cases carrying out, disinfection of rooms
in which consumptives have died, or from which they may have
removed.
"4. And here it may be said that of 333 persons who died from tuberculous
disease in this parish in 1898, 217 fell victims to consumption, exclusive
of deaths of non-parishioners at Brompton Hospital. How many
sufferers are fading away it is quite impossible to surmise. But
much information on the subject could, no doubt, be obtained from
medical practitioners, especially those attached to the Poor Law service,
and to charitable and provident dispensaries. Such information should
be obtained and acted upon with the care bestowed in cases of scarlet
fever, diphtheria, and enteric fever; diseases which in 1898 were fatal
to 61 persons, or less than a third of the number of the victims to consumption
alone.
"5. We recommend that the Vestry be advised to adopt all practicable
means for the prevention and the cure of consumption and tubercular
disease generally, e.g.:—