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Measures should be taken by Sanitary Authorities
(a) to educate and train the sufferer from Phthisis in
the method of life suitable to his disease, not only
with a view to his own cure, but at the same time to
minimise the risk of his infecting others; (b) to
secure for the patient separate sleeping accommodation
so far as circumstances will permit either at home or in
an institution; (c) to disinfect rooms which have become
infected and to remove all conditions which
favour infection or re-infection.
Characteristics of Tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the
tubercle bacillus. Its development is favoured by
lowered vitality and insanitary surroundings. The
disease is preventable and curable. It is in ordinary
circumstances infectious by one channel only, that of
the lungs, the infectious material being discharged as
expectoration or as cough spray. This mode of infectoin
can be controlled by the patient if he be
scrupulously careful, moreover short exposure to
infection does not suffice to infect healthy persons to
an extent that will produce disease ; an exaggerated
fear of infection is therefore not justified.
Tuberculosis is to a large extent a disease of ignorance.
Hygiene should be taught in schools. The
pressure of public opinion should be brought to bear
against indiscriminate expectoration and against
overcrowding and other evils of housing and
occupation.
Special instruction should be given to those more
directly exposed to tuberculous infection, such as the