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73
It will be noted that the disease appears to be more prevalent
in the Inner than in the Outer Districts, or Wards, of
the Borough—a state of things that was to be expected, bearing
in mind the more crowded conditions (persons in houses,
or houses over area) that exist in the former.
The notification of consumption of the lungs (with tuberculous
expectoration), or phthisis pulmonalis, is voluntary, and was
started in Lambeth Borough on June 1st, 1902. It is found that
the notified cases have reference chiefly to the artisan and
working classes of the population. It may be added that,
connected with the notification of consumption, the Bacteriological
Laboratory calls for attention, wherein, during 1903-4,
392 samples of sputum have been examined (the tubercle
bacilli being found in 131, i.e., 33.4 per cent.).
Wherever a case is notified, a visit is at once paid to the
house, enquiries made, and a pamphlet (or circular) left—
the pamphlet (circular) describing, in plain language, the
infectious nature of the disease, and the simple domestic
preventive measures that may be taken by persons suffering
from the disease, so as to prevent, or at least considerably
minimise, its spread to others, who may share the same
room (or house). Succeeding visits are made at intervals,
so that when a house (or room) is vacated by a consumptive
patient, the necessary disinfection may be carried out. Wherever
a death is registered, disinfection of the infected premises
(and contents) is carried out, and a pamphlet (circular)
left, as in the case of notification.
By these means, the Lambeth inhabitants are becoming
better acquainted with the nature of the disease—its infectiousness,
and more care is being exercised to prevent its
spread. It would appear to be, therefore, an opportune
moment to advance a step or two in preventive measuers.
As knowledge of the disease increases, the more it becomes
evident that the cause of the disease is the tubercle
bacillus, and that the commonest, if not sole, channel by
which it spreads from person to person is the phlegm, or
expectoration, or spit, of the person suffering from the
disease. Such phlegm, expectoration, or spit, at times teems
with large numbers of the tubercle germs, and, when dried,
may be scattered far and wide, as dust, the germs being
carried on the particles of such dust. Indiscriminate