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The fatal cases of consumption had been diminishing for many years before the
policy of treating the disease as infectious had ever been initiated, and when reliance
had been confined to hygienic measures. The object really to be aimed at is bringing
every individual to much the same condition that many of us are in, i.e., that
the tubercle bacillus has attacked us, but has found it impossible to do us any
material harm. I therefore see no reason to alter in any shape the views I expressed
to the Council in 1906, nor to advise that consumption be made compulsorily notifiable,
while to such a half-hearted measure as voluntary notification I should offer
opposition, believing that it is neither useful nor consistent.
(Signed) FRANCIS STEVENS, Medical Officer of Health.
The Committee, and subsequently the Council, decided to take
no steps in the way of the voluntary notification of pulmonary
tuberculosis.
Early in June a conference was convened by the Paddington
Borough Council to consider the question of legislative action as
regards phthisis. Owing to absence from London, I was unable
to attend to speak and to vote against a resolution which was
adopted by a large majority, that compulsory notification of phthisis
was desirable; for I believe that satisfactory evidence has not been
given to the effect that person-to-person infection is a factor of any
considerable amount in the spread of phthisis. At this conference
a resolution was also passed to apply to the Local Government
Board to ask them to confer powers on the Metropolitan Asylums
Board to provide sanatoria which would be available for London
inhabitants.
In my last report I called attention to a successful appeal
against a decision obtained by this Council in a summons taken
out against the proprietors of a motor 'bus for emitting smoke. The
result seems to have had the effect of stimulating the drivers of
these vehicles to greater efforts in this regard, but their supremacy
is seriously challenged by those who drive private cars. The result
is that other travellers who have to use the road have to suffer from
the effects of a vapour which inflames the eyes, irritates the throat,
in addition to running the risk of getting into a dust cloud, the
bacteriological composition of which would probably surprise many
of those who hailed the motor vehicle as the one hygienic way of
progression.
Unless it should be the incomprehensible apathy of the public,
it would appear that the passion for quick transit has obtained
such a hold that people are prepared to suffer any inconvenience
provided they can attain their desires in this respect.
At the end of 1906 and the beginning of 1907 complaint was
made in reference to the shooting of dust from vehicles belonging to
the dust contractor to the Lambeth Borough Council into barges
near the Canal Head, Peckham, and of the nuisance caused thereby
to the inhabitants of Salisbury Cottages and the neighbourhood.
The matter was kept under daily observation by two Sanitary
Inspectors, and frequent visits were paid by myself. As a result of
our inspections the following report was made to the Public Health
Committee: —
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