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53
Inspector or Health Visitor.* Now it was well known
that the duties imposed by the Notification of Births
Act, 1908, fully occupied the time and energies of
Miss Harris, so that no fresh duties could be thrown
upon her. Just about this time Miss Harris (Mrs. H. F.
Bridel), sent in her resignation on the occasion of her
marriage, and the appointment of her successor was
referred by the Council to the Public Health Committee.
It was thought by many members of the
Committee that this was a favourable opportunity to
recommend the appointment of two Health Visitors in
place of one woman Sanitary Inspector, as the Borough
could then be divided, and a Health Visitor appointed
to each Sub-district. This plan was strongly urged by
Mr. Foot and myself. It was felt by the Committee
that our advice was good, but, unfortunately, considerations
of economy prevailed, and it was decided to
recommend the appointment of one Health Visitor in
place of Miss Harris on her retirement, which course
was ultimately sanctioned by the Council and carried
out.
* Home Management of Consumptives.
The employment of trained women in the work of visiting and
instructing consumptives has proved so advantageous in administration
that the Conference recommends it should receive encouragement.
As much of the work of investigation will be in the region of the
home life of the consumptive, it is conceivable that in this connection the
trained woman has an important aud useful sphere of action. The
employment of trained women to investigate the home conditions of
patients, and to advise as to means of personal and domestic hygiene, has
proved so increasingly successful in some of the States that the
Conference commends it for universal consideration. The systematic
home visiting of consumptives by a competent and sympathetic woman
visitor or nurse should go far to secure, on the part of the patient,
continuous adoption of the necessary precautions when wisely, firmly, and
persistently directed.
(Report of Australian Conference on Tuberculosis).