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36
SANATORIA.
Since my last report on this subject, much progress has been made in the provision of
Sanatoria for consumptives, and there are now over 50 of these institutions in the United
Kingdom, containing a total of about 2,500 beds.
Sanatoria for the early cases and homes for the advanced cases amongst the poorest classes
are a pressing necessity. The early cases may then be restored to health and activity. The
advanced consumptive left to die in a small tenement of only one or two rooms is the most
common cause of spreading the infection.
Many Boards of Guardians are of opinion that they should erect proper sanatoria for the
open-air treatment of their consumptive patients instead of sendiug them, as at present, to the
general infirmaries. This, of course, would be a great improvement, but public opinion is now
so rapidly advancing that I think the best course would be for these Sanatoria to be provided
by the Metropolitan Asylums Board, as that is the authority in London for the isolation and
treatment of infectious diseases.
spitting.
I am of opinion that this Council ought to co-operate with the other Metropolitan
Borough Councils in oi'der to secure the passing of a bye-law to prohibit spitting in all places of
public resort.
In Liverpool there is already a bye-law against spitting in tramcars or tramway stations
or in premises connected therewith. Manchester and Glasgow have bye-laws against spitting in
the Corporation tramcars. In Glamorganshire the following bye-law is in force:—"A person
shall not spit on the floor, side, or wall of any public carriage or of any public hall, public waiting
room or place of public entertainment, whether admission thereto be obtained upon payment or
not."
The Council of the National Association for the prevention of consumption has recently
passed the following resolution:—"That spitting on the floors of public buildings, on platforms,
corridors, staircases, and in public carriages or passenger boats, or in any covered place of
public resort should be forbidden by law." A copy of this resolution has been forwarded to the
Presidents of the Local Government Board and the Board of Trade, and has been circulated
widely in the Press.
In Boston, U.S.A., the Board of Health on the 23rd March, 1899, issued the following
regulations:-"The Board of Health hereby adjudges that the deposit of sputum in public places
is a nuisance, source of filth, and cause of sickness, and hereby orders that spitting upon the
floor, platform, or steps of any railroad or railway station, car, public building, hall, church,
theatre, market, or any side walk immediately connected with the said public places be and hereby
is prohibited."
In many other towns of the United States and Canada similar bye-laws have been passed;
also in France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, and Hungary various laws prohibiting
spitting have been passed.
In the City of London and in many other towns a circular letter drawing attention to the
filthy and dangerous habit of indiscriminate spitting has been addressed to all Railway, Omnibus
and Tramway Companies, Markets, Public Offices, Restaurants, Licensed Victuallers, Common
Lodging Houses and Public Libraries, and a suitable notice for hanging up has been issued. I
would therefore advise that this Council should draw the attention of Owners of Common
Lodging Houses, Public Houses, Restaurants, and Workshops to the danger which is known to