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59
contract the disease as the result of malnutrition, the
less efficient ventilation of their rooms, the more
limited circulation of air about their dwellings, etc.
Even if no immediate benefit shonld be derived from
the notification of poor-law patients the statistics that
will be collected and information that will be thus obtained,
will undoubtedly prove valuable, and it is desirable
as soon as possible to ascertain the percentage of
the notified cases that could be either permanently or
for a long time restored to strength and useful work, by
prompt treatment in a suitable Institution.
Whenever any far reaching scheme of Poor Law
reform may be under discussion, and also at any time
when concerted action may be proposed by Public
Health Authorities, an approximate estimate of the
number of probably recoverable cases would be of considerable
value.
In the meantime appreciable good might be done in
inducing the sufferers from Pulmonary Tuberculosis,
diagnosed during its earliest stages, to undergo immediate
treatment, preferably in an Institution. This
could be done either by the gratuitous efforts of a nonofficial
committee working in conjunction with the
Sanitary Authority, or by Officers of the Sanitary Authority
or of the Guardians. The members of such
committee or such officers could bring to the knowledge of
the patient suitable Institutions for his treatment, advise
and assist him to secure his admission thereto and
meanwhile instruct the patient and spread information
among his relatives as to the means of securing the