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26
DISINFECTION.
Of the 170 deaths from phthisis during the year 1903, 108 took place at infirmaries or
hospitals, and of the remaining 62 who died at home the rooms occupied by the deceased were disinfected
in 45 cases. In the majority of the remaining cases it was found that the bedding, &c., had
been thoroughly cleansed, and that the rooms were also very clean. When any patient is removed to
infirmary from the St. Giles Workhouse the bed and bedding on which the patient slept are thoroughly
disinfected.
SANATORIA.
At the recent Annual General Meeting of the National Association for the Prevention of Consumption
it was reported that considerable progress in the promotion of Sanatoria had been made
during the year, there now being more than 70 institutions in the United Kingdom, making a total of
2,760 beds; an increase of 18 institutions with 375 beds over the return in October, 1902. The
majority of these institutions were, however, for paying guests, and, as I pointed out in my last
report, 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 sending 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.
The subject was further considered by the Metropolitan Asylums Board last November, and
the following resolution was agreed to: —
" That the Managers having duly considered the question of the proposed establishment of
sanatoria for consumptive patients and the letters received from the Local Government Board and the
various Metropolitan Local Authorities and Medical Officers of Health in regard thereto, are of
opinion that the matter is one of such vital and far-reaching importance to the community at large,
and one which, if adopted by the managers, would entail so considerable extension of their duties and
responsibilities, and so large an increase in their expenditure, as to call for some authoritative
expression of opinion by the Chief Health Authority of the country, viz., the Local Government
Board, before the managers are asked to take any definite action in the matter or to make any
further inquiries in regard thereto, and that the Local Government Board, the several Boards of
Guardians, the Borough Councils and the Medical Officers of Health bo so informed."
INFLUENZA.
Only 11 deaths last year were assigned to influenza, 7 in Bloomsbury and St. Giles, and 4 in
the Holborn Division.
ALCOHOLISM.
Thirty-two deaths were assigned to alcoholism or cirrhosis of liver; 15 in Bloomsbury and
St. Giles, and 17 in the Holborn Sub-division. These represent only a small proportion of the deaths
that are really caused by alcoholism, as they are frequently registered under the headings of other
secondary causes.
Further details of the causes of, and ages at death, are given in Table 4 of the Appendix.