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"(1) By spreading information as to the nature and cause, the preventability,
and curability of tuberculosis, and especially of consumption;
and by inculcating the necessity for thorough cooking of
meat and the boiling of milk.
"(2) By disinfection of houses after the occurrence of fatal cases of
consumption, and after removal of consumptives to new abodes.
"6. It is perhaps almost needless to observe that consumption is a common
cause of pauperism. The bread winner works while he can, but the
time arrives when he can work no longer. Then, too often, he has to
come on the rates. Many such cases find their way to the workhouse
infirmaries—with disease hopelessly advanced, and beyond remedy.
They become a source of danger to other persons, and, no doubt, spread
infection, more or less.* It is a question whether it would not be well
for Boards of Guardians to make special provision for housing such cases
away from other inmates, and preferably in establishments quite distinct.
Different Boards might be enabled to unite for such a purpose, and also
for the purpose of providing country hospitals for the treatment, with a
view to the cure of the disease. Expenditure for such purposes would
probably be a profitable investment of public moneys. The Kensington
Guardians might be approached on the subject by the Vestry, as sanitary
authority. The present time would seem to be an appropriate one to do
so, as the Guardians are contemplating the erection of an additional
block (at an estimated cost of £13,000), to provide improved and increased
accommodation for women and children at the workhouse. It is
just possible that by making provision for consumptives away from the
workhouse and infirmary, the additional accommodation thus set free
would, in part at least, obviate the necessity for the proposed expenditure.
But apart from this point altogether, the matter is one in regard
to which the sanitary and the poor-law authorities might take counsel
together with advantage.
"7. Should our report be approved by your committee and the Vestry, we
would further recommend that it be referred to us to draw up a detailed
scheme for giving effect to the several recommendations above set
out.
"All which we submit."
*At the date of the report, there were about sixty sufferers from consumption
in the parish infirmary, spread over the wards assigned to the sick of both sexes.
The deaths during the year 1899 were 75.