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78
Search for missed and unrecognised cases.—As the result
of a special enquiry, in 22 affected families 25 suspicious cases of
chronic cough and wasting were discovered and put in the way
of obtaining treatment. The other families inhabiting the same
houses as the consumptives were also investigated, and suspicious
cases were referred to hospitals and dispensaries.
This is one of the most important purposes of visitation, to
enquire after missed and unrecognised cases in the homes of the
patients and in the households of the other families inhabiting
the houses affected. These overlooked cases, unless captured
early, are possessed of infinite possibilities of spreading phthisic.
Disinfection and Preventive Measures.—The rooms
bedding, feeding utensils, to«els, handkerchiefs and iinen were
disinfected in 162 instances, or in 38 per cent, of the households.
In many of the affected homes the responsible head of the
family refused any disinfection whatever, in some cases only the
bedding was disinfected, in a few homes only the rooms were
attended to.
Some patients took no special precautions whatever to prevent
the infection spreading to the rest of the family, and were apparently
indifferent as to whether they caught the disease or not. A
few patients thought that by using a spittoon they were doing all
that could be reasonably expected of them—they were disinclined
to put themselves to any further trouble. In every case it is urged
that the patient should have a separate living room for his own
exclusive use and a separate bedroom, or, failing these, a separate
bed. The importance of separate feeding utensils, of separate
towels, and handkerchiefs, of wet dusting and wet sweeping, of
fresh air, open windows and sunshine, of the nutritive values of
milk and eggs is strongly urged in every instance. In practice,
it must, however, be confessed that in Finsbury the achievement
of these ideal conditions is only too often impossible. In such
straits the patient is instructed how to make the best of things as
they are.