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131 [1905
It should also be mentioned every week an extract is made from the
mortality returns of the deaths that have occurred from phthisis, and in each
instance the following letter is sent by the Medical Officer of Health to the
head of the family :—
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF ISLINGTON.
Town Hall,
Upper Street, N.
Dear Sir or Madam,
I exceedingly regret to find from the Mortality Returns that a member of your household
has died from consumption of the lungs. This disease, as you are probably aware,
is infectious, and consequently the rooms which the patient has occupied, as well as the
clothing which has been worn, have in all probability become infected.
Under these circumstances you will recognise that it is necessary that the rooms and the
clothing should be disinfected in order that the disease may not be conveyed to other persons.
I have, therefore, to ask that you will be good enough to assist the Sanitary Authority
in its endeavour to stamp out consumption by allowing such disinfection, for which of course
there will be no charge, to be carried out.
If you will kindly inform the Inspector who calls with this letter when it will be convenient
for the Disinfector to commence his work, I will make the necessary arrangements
for its speedy completion.
All the bedding and clothing used by the deceased will be removed to the Borough
Disinfecting Station for disinfection and will be returned within twenty-four hours.
I am,
Yours faithfully,
A. E. HARRIS,
Medical Officer of Health.
As a rule the offer is gratefully accepted and consequently it happens
that in 283 cases the room and clothing were disinfected.
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