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1902] 270
The measure now advocated, which, as I have shown you, is being
gradually adopted throughout the country, will have an intimate and direct
bearing on the prevention of this disease, and should, therefore, lead to very
great results. In New York, the death rate from Phthisis has decreased more
than 30 per cent. since 1885, and the Medical Officer (Dr. Biggs) anticipates
that with compulsory notification, and with a complete and efficient scheme
for dealing with Pulmonary Tuberculosis, there will be a further decrease of
one-third, which means the saving of 3,000 lives annually.
You will recollect that at the meeting of this Committee prior to the
holidays I obtained your permission to address a letter to the Medical
Profession asking them if, in the event of this Authority deciding to invite the
Voluntary Notification of Phthisis, they would forward the necessary information.
I have sent such a letter, and the response has been most gratifying
as well as encouraging, for I am glad to say that nearly all its members have
replied in the affirmative, while many have in addition expressed their great
satisfaction and pleasure at the possibility of Islington taking up so good a
work.
This question of the prevention of Tuberculosis has been associated with
some of my early sanitary efforts. I publicly advocated its compulsovy
notification fully ten years ago. But I was evidently before my time, for there
was not a single Medical Officer of Health supported my views on that
occasion. It was said, and perhaps rightly, that the medical profession of this
country were not then prepared to notify the disease. But there is now a
steady change coming over them, and it is very possible that in course of time,
perhaps in a very short time, they will agree to the form of notification which
I then advocated, just as they have agreed to the notification of the so-called
preventable zymotic diseases.
I am glad to know that in this borough there are many medical men who
hold a strong opinion that the time has arrived when this disease should be
made compulsorily notifiable.
This, however, cannot be done by this Council.
I can, however, foresee that the time is approaching when practically all
the London Borough Councils will have adopted the principle of voluntary
notification, and that then the London County Council will obtain, or the
Local Government Board grant, powers to compel its notification.