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enquiries are made into the history of the case. Advice, both
oral and printed, is given as to the precautions to be taken by
the patient and those in contact, and sputum vessels are provided
free. The sanitary condition of the home is noted and any defects
found dealt with. Disinfection of the rooms, clothing, etc.,
of the patient is arranged for, and disinfectants supplied. The
patient, if being treated at home, is kept under observation and
periodically visited, and in cases where removal to hospital or the
infirmary is necessary, assistance where possible is rendered by
the Health Department.
In addition assistance is rendered by the Health Society and
philanthropic bodies working in the Borough. Many of the cases
after being visited by one of the Council's Officers are handed over
to the Health Society, which arranges for the revisiting of the
patients and other material assistance through the appropriate
channel.
To sum up, therefore, the preventive measures at present in
operation in Battersea for dealing with pulmonary tuberculosis
are as follows: —
1. Voluntary notification.
2. Compulsory notification of Poor Law cases.
3. Facilities for the free bacteriological examination of sputum
in suspected cases.
4. Visiting of patients at their homes, by Health Visitors,
for the purposes of giving advice, oral and printed, and
for securing, where possible, isolation and the disinfection
of rooms, clothing, etc., and the removal of insanitary
conditions.
During the year some useful work has been accomplished in
this direction, but there still remains a good deal to be done
before it can be claimed that a proper and sufficient provision is
made for dealing with this terrible disease. The great drawback
at the present time is the absence of free sanatorium accommodation
for the treatment of suitable cases. It is surely
time when some adequate provision should be made to supply
this want for London.
Numerous examples might be cited as a result of the enquiries
made into notified cases of the disease in the poorer quarters of
the Borough during the year. Thus, for example, of 22 cases
notified amongst children, in ten the condition of the families of
these patients was described by the Health Visitor as being practically
destitute, and in the case of four others poor. In 18 of the
22 cases there was a previous history of phthisis, and in only three