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"It will be seen that the resolutions adopted do not deal with the large number of
phthisical cases which are to be found outside the poor-law. The Conference, however, was
of opinion that it would be best to deal with the question of poor-law cases only, in the first
instance."
Nothing, so far, has come of the meeting—at which I deprecated the proposal to approach
the Local Government Board alone, being of the opinion that the Metropolitan Asylums Board
were pre-eminently the body to deal with the matter; and, further, that the effort to obtain
sanatoria for persons suffering from consumption should have greater regard to the needs of the
non-chargeable poor than to those of persons in receipt of relief, and for whom some provision,
of a sort, is now made by the Boards of Guardians in the Poor Law Infirmaries.
THE MILLFIELD HOME.
Reference has already been made to this Sea-side Home, at Rustington,near Littlehampton,
which was established by the Metropolitan Asylums Board, under the powers conferred by
an Order of the Local Government Board, dated 2nd April, 1897, which declared it to
be "expedient" to include among the "classes of poor chargeable to Unions and Parishes in the
Metropolitan Asylums District, for whose reception and relief the said district should be deemed to
be formed, children requiring either special treatment during convalescence, or the benefit of sea-side
air." The Managers, some time since, decided to devote the Home for the treatment of children,
of both sexes, under 16 years of age, in the early stage of pulmonary phthisis (consumption), for
whose reception it was opened last year. By this act, they have, in principle, constituted
themselves a Sanatorium Authority; an important new departure to which the Local Government
Board have not taken exception.
The Home comprises four blocks, with twenty beds in each, and was opened in April last
year. The area of the site is 5½ acres. It is intended for the use of children able to avail
themselves freely of the open-air either on the sea-beach, or in the grounds, or on the verandahs.
The cost of site and buildings was about £25,000.
As elsewhere stated, the Managers could, with the sanction of the Board, and without
fresh legislation, make provision for chargeable adults, under Section 5 of the Metropolitan Poor
Act, 1867, which enacts that "Asylums may be provided under this Act for Reception
and Relief of the Sick, Insane or Infirm, or other Class or Classes of the poor, chargeable in Unions
and Parishes in the Metropolis."
THE IDENTITY OF THE TUBERCLE BACILLUS: PRELIMINARY REPORT
OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION.
At the International Congress held in London in 1901, a profound sensation was created by
a paper read by Professor Koch, in which he stated that bovine tuberculosis is not transmissible
to man, the necessary corrollary being that, qua. tuberculosis, no danger need be apprehended from
the drinking of tuberculous milk or the eating of the fiesh of tuberculous cattle. The views
expressed by Dr. Koch contravened the general belief in the practical identity of human and bovine
tuberculosis, and led to a suggestion, by interested persons, that the stringency of the procedures
intended to prevent the sale for food of man of the milk of tuberculous cows, and the flesh of tuberculous
animals, should be relaxed, notwithstanding that the Congress (in resolution 5*) had
deprecated any relaxation, by medical officers of health, of efforts to prevent the spread of tuberculosis
through the agency of meat and milk. But, while Dr. Koch's views could not be accepted,
the Congress was so far impressed by them as to have passed a resolution to the effect—
"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."
This weighty declaration had the desired effect, a royal commission having been appointed—
"To inquire and report (1) whether tuberculosis in animals and man is one and the same
disease; (2) whether animals and man can be reciprocally infected with it; (3) under what
conditions, if at all, the transmission of the disease from animals to man takes place, and
what are the circumstances favourable or unfavourable to such transmission."
*The resolution read as follows :—" That in the opinion of the 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."