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In two instances there were 4 beds in the patient's bedroom,
occupied by 2 and 6 persons respectively. This list excludes
common lodging houses. Only 86 patients out of 438 were able
to have a bed and bedroom all to themselves.
In the other households where only one bed was available,
419 persons slept in the same bed with the consumptives, and
were consequently closely exposed to infection. This number
refers to those families which only possessed one bed. In addition
to these there were 440 persons who occupied the same bedroom
as a phthisical patient, and in some instances the same bed.
Four bedrooms had no fireplace, so that ventilation in them
was absent or impossible.
The ventilation was insufficient in 55 other bedrooms, making
a total of 59 bedrooms, or 13 per cent. of the whole number.
The defective ventilation and absence of ventilation greatlv
facilitate the spread of the disease. It is difficult sometimes to
suggest means by which it may be overcome—occasionally owners
have been induced to place gratings in the walls. Unfortunately,
even when they have been provided, the occupants have been
known to stuff the apertures with rags and thus render these
gratings useless. The absence of fireplaces bespeaks very bad
housing—in some instances these rooms without fireplaces were