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59
The findings as to methods of feeding, the occupation of the
mother, the previous health of the children dying of this disease,
and the effect of housing conditions, are confirmatory of last
year's experience (Report 1906, pp. 105-108).
PHTHISIS.
The Voluntary Notification of Phthisis.—The
number of notifications of Phthisis are exactly the same as last
year. The system of voluntary notification was adopted in this
district in October, 1900. In 1901 there were 70 notifications;
in 1902, 121; in 1903, 219; in 1904, 210; in 1905, 178; in 1906,
217; and in 1907, 217, as follows:—
Notified Cases.
Under
10 years
10- 20- 30- 40- 50- 60- Total.
Males 1 1 32 37 26 25 21 143
Females 1 8 12 19 15 11 8 74
Total 2 9 44 56 41 36 29 217
Most of these 217 notifications are of inmates in the Highgate
Infirmary, and are of cases in an advanced stage of the disease.
In former years I have discussed the pioneer work in voluntary
notification which this Borough Council has been able to undertake,
and I think there can bo little doubt that good has resulted. But
without the provision of more isolation accommodation the advantages
are greatly reduced. It should not be forgotten that
there is a double need to be met by isolation. First, it is important,
that there should be sanatoria for the repair of consumptive
patients in the early stages of the disease. Secondly, institutions
are required where advanced cases can be isolated, in order thus
to remove the most dangerous sources of infection from the rest
of the community. Another sort of institution which would be
of the greatest value is a phthisis dispensary.