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3. Sedentary and Confined.—Four were shop assistants,
2 were clerks, 4 were tailors,(male and female), and 1 was a
milliner.
People who work in close, stuffy, ill-ventilated workrooms
contract phthisis easier than those whose work lies in the open
and in well-aired establishments. The open-air cure is also openair
prevention, and special attention is given to the ventilation of
all workshops or shops where consumptives are employed, and
every effort is made to secure amelioration and an adequate supply
and continuous renewal of fresh air.
4. Dusty.—It has long been known that certain dusty
occupations favour the onset of consumption. One Finsbury case
was a street sweeper, 3 were turners, 1 a cloth-worker, 1 a brassfinisher,
1 a pot maker.
Among the remainder there were 7 charwomen, 2 caretakers, 1
guide, 4 artificial flower-makers, 3 bookfolders, 3 cardboard box
makers, 8 porters, 4 packers, and 26 others, all possessed in more
or less degree of facilities for furthering the spread of this fell
disease.
Duration of Disease before notification.—Fifty-nine
had been ill less than 6 months, 23 under 1 year, 89 under 5 years,
32 under 10 years, and 9 cases had been ill between 10 and 20
years before being notified to the Health Authority.
It may be said that most cases had existed for between 3 and 4
years before coming under medical supervision.
This means that for that length of time, although he might
expectorate broadcast and freely, yet for this period, for three
years, he probably took little or no pains to prevent himself
communicating the disease to his neighbours.
Fourteen patients even after notification were quite unaware
that they were consumptive and were adopting no precautions
whatever.