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bring this into effect I suggest that the medical men of the district should be invited to give
information of any cases of phthisis occurring in their practices, and that half-a-crown be given
for every case thus notified. We should thus have an opportunity of instructing the patients in
the hygiene suitable to their case. This latter object could be best accomplished by having a
leaflet or short pamphlet printed containing the essential facts regarding the nature and
preventability of the disease, and giving general instructions concerning the best methods of
disinfection. This printed information could be left at the houses of patients as we hear of them
from the medical men.
The following resolutions were adopted at the final meeting of the Congress:-
1. "That tuberculous sputum is the main agent for the conveyance of the virus of
tuberculosis from man to man, and that indiscriminate spitting should therefore be suppressed."
2. "That it is the opinion of this Congress that all public hospitals and dispensaries
should present every patient suffering from phthisis with a leaflet containg instructions with
regard to the prevention of consumption, and should supply and insist on the proper use of the
pocket spittoon."
3. "That the voluntary notification of cases of phthisis attended with tuberculous
expectorations, and the increased preventive action which it has rendered practicable, has been
attended by a promising measure of success, and that the extension of notification should be
encouraged in all districts in which efficient sanitary administration renders it possible to adopt
the consequential measures."
4. "That the provision of sanatoria is an indispensable part of the measures necessary
for the diminution of tuberculosis."
5. "That, in the opinion of this Congress and in the light of the work that has been
presented at its sittings, medical officers of health should continue to use all the powers at their
disposal, and relax no effort to prevent the spread of tuberculosis by milk and meat."
6. "That, in view of the doubts thrown on the identity of human and bovine tuberculosis,
it is expedient that the Government be approached and requested to institute an immediate
inquiry into this question, which is of vital importance to the public health, and of great
consequence to the agricultural industry."
7. "That the educational work of the great national societies for the prevention of
tuberculosis is deserving of every encouragement and support. It is through their agency that
a rational public opinion may be formed, the duties of public health officers made easier of
performance, and such local and State legislation as may be requisite called into existence."
8. "That this Congress is of opinion that a permanent international committee should
be appointed: (a) to collect evidence and report on the measures that have been adopted for the
prevention of tuberculosis in different countries; (b) to publish a popular statement of these
measures; (c) to keep and publish periodically a record of scientific research in relation to
tuberculosis; (d) to consider and recommend measures of prevention. This Congress is further
of opinion that all international and great national societies whose object is the prevention of
tuberculosis should be invited to co-operate."
9. "That, in the opinion of this Congress, overcrowding, defective ventilation, damp, and
general insanitary conditions in the houses of the working classes diminish the chance of
curing consumption, and aid in predisposing to and spreading the disease."
10. "That the following question be submitted for the consideration of the next
Congress on tuberculosis: The constitutional conditions of the individual which prodisposes
to tuberculosis, and the means by which they may be modified."
11. "That, while recognising the great importance of sanatoria in combating tuberculosis
in all countries, the attention of Government should be directed to informing charitable and
philanthropic individuals and societies of the necessity for anti-tubercular dispensaries as the
best means of checking tubercular disease among the industrial and indigent classes."
This Report was brought before the Council by the Public Health Committee in
February, with a draft of the recommendations, which was as follows: —
(a) That it be referred to us to have prepared and printed a leaflet containing
a short account of the nature of tuberculosis, its curability, the methods by which it is
principally spread, and the best means of preventing the latter, such leaflet to be
circulated among phthisical patients in the Borough as we become aware of them.
(b) That for the purpose of obtaining information of consumptive persons in order
to distribute the leaflet, give personal instruction and advice where necessary, disinfect
the rooms, etc., the Local Government Board be asked whether they will sanction a
payment of 2s. 6d. to medical practitioners for every fresh case notified to this Council.
(c) That letters be sent to the Metropolitan Asylums Board and the Local Government
Board, urging them to consider the advisability of providing sanatoria for the
treatment of consumptive persons on the lines suggested in the Report received from
the Chelsea Borough Council.
These were adopted by the Committee, and by the Council, on March 4th. On April 29th
the Town Clerk reported the receipt of a letter from the Local Government Board, stating that,
in their opinion, the Borough Council have the necessary powers to make reasonable payments
in respect to the notification of cases of infectious disease occurring in the district.
On this being submitted to the Public Health Committee, they decided, owing to the
prevalence of small-pox in the district, to let the matter stand over for six months.
The subject was not referred to again until February of the present year, 1903, when the
following Report was made:—
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