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The first notification was received on April 24th, and from this till the end of the 52 weeksunder
report 67 in all were received.
On the receipt of a notification the following leaflet is at once posted to the patient :-
Metropolitan Borongh of Bermondseg.
Town Hall, Spa Road, S.E.
190
PRECAUTIONS RECOMMENDED
FOR
PREVENTING CONSUMPTION.
CONSUMPTION is an INFECTIOUS DISEASE, and is spreid by the microbes which
swarm in the sputum. These are scattered broadcast when the sputum
with the dust of the room. Persons suffering from CONSUMPTION should NEVER SPIT on
the floor either of their own rooms, or in any Bus, Tram, Railway Carriage, or other public place.
When the patient is confined to the house, he should either spit into a special MUG or JAR
containing water to which has been added a little crude CARBOLIC ACID, or into a rag which
should be immediately burnt. The cup when full, can be emptied down the,W.C., and scalded
with BOILING WATER before being used again.
The utensils used by consumptives should on no account be used by the other people in the
house. They must have their own cup and saucer, spoons, etc., kept for their special use.
When not confined to the house the patient should carry a suitable bottle for spitting into.
This can be obtained from almost any chemist. When the patient returns to his home the bottle
should be carefully emptied and disinfected with boiling water.
These precautions are for the benefit of the patient as well as his friends, since it is possible
for him to be re-infected by his own sputum, as well as to infect others.
Consumptives should avoid swallowing their own sputum because this causes disease to arise
in the stomach or bowels, and other parts of the body. They ought not to kiss their friends or be
kissed by them on the mouth.
INFECTION is sometimes received through infected milk or other food. This is especially
the case in children. To prevent CONSUMPTION being spread by meat or milk, the former
must be thoroughly well cooked and the latter boiled before use.
Healthy people do not catch consumption easily, but a low state of pmhsposea to it.
This condition may be inherited, or induced by OVERCROWDING want of VENTILATION
DARK. DIRTY and DAMP HOUSES, BAD FOOD, INTEMPERANCE, INFECTIOUS
DISEASE, or anything that lowers the general state of health.
CONSUMPTION is both PREVENTABLE and CURABLE, and the two greft
agents by which this is accomplished are : —
SUNLIGHT and FRESH AIR.
Live in the fresh air as much as possible, and take every opportunity of being in the Sun
and allowing it to shine in your rooms. Where possible the patient should sleep in a room by
himself or,if this is impossible, he should at any rate have a bed to himself. Ihe bedroom window
should be OPEN at the top, NIGHT and DAY, the patient being protected from wind and
rain by other means than closing the window. It is always better to keep warm by putting on
extra clothes than trying to raise the temperature of the room by shutting the windows fireplaces,
etc. The house should be kept free from dust, and, when cleaning, damp dusters should be used.
These dusters can be boiled afterwards. Tea leaves should be used to keep down the dust when
sweeping, and burnt afterwards.
In the event of a DEATH from CONSUMPTION, or removal of a patient to another
house, the room which has been occupied should be thoroughly DISINFECTED.
R. K. BROWN,
Medical Officer of Health,
Note.—Disinfection will be carried out by the Council
FREE OF CHARGE.
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