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97
This disease is preventable and curable, and yet it causes
50,000. deaths every year, and three times this number are disabled
by it. Further, it is estimated that the charge to the State
in England and Wales, in relieving the distress directly caused by
consumption, is at present one million sterling. "If preventable,
the reasons, why it has not hitherto been prevented, are : —
Firstly, because in the past it has not been recognised that
the disease is due to a minute germ called the tubercle bacillus,
and that it is an extremely difficult thing to recognise consumption
in the early stages, and only in the last few years has
a method been devised for distinguishing the complaint at an
early period. A very important reason why the disease was
not recognised was because the patient did not go to a medical
man as a rule until he was past cure, and because the onset of
the disease was so insidious that the patient did not feel his
need for advice.
In the future it is proposed that all doubtful cases of
consumption and all persons in contact in the home shall be
examined and, if necessary, treated.
Secondly, the disease could not be dealt with efficiently in
the past, even after it had been recognised, there being only
room for a very small number of patients in sanatoria. Supposing
we could afford the enormous cost of providing sanatorium
treatment for every consumptive, only a certain proportion
would be suitable, and only a proportion could leave their
homes, families and employment to go to these institutions,
since in many cases such action would mean ruin both to the
patient and his family.
By means of the Dispensary we could avoid sanatorium
treatment in many cases too advanced for such treatment to be
of lasting value, and we could educate these patients so that
they would not prove a danger to the community.
G