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duties of this staff are, however, of a multifarious character. In the
case of the Sanitary Inspectors, in addition to their ordinary routine
work of house inspection, nuisance inspection, drainage work, &c.,
their duties include, as well, the investigation of infectious disease,
both notifiable and non-notifiable, e.g., Scarlet-fever, Diphtheria,
Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Measles, Whooping-cough, &c., &c.
During 1911 the number of case of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
notified, and the number of domiciliary visits paid by the Sanitary
Inspectors and Health Visitors in connection therewith, was as
follows:—
Total number of cases notified 444
Total number of domiciliary visits paid 1,380
These visits were divided amongst nine officers, and give, therefore,
an average of 154 visits paid by each officer in connection with
cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis notified during the year.
The Tuberculosis notifications received during 1911 were those
under the two previous sets of Regulations, viz., the "Poor Law"
and the " Hospitals," and Voluntary Notifications of cases in the
private practice of medical men practising in the Borough. It is to
be anticipated that, under the New Regulations which came into
force on the 1st January, 1912, there will be a considerable increase
in the number of these notifications. Support is given to this
anticipation by a comparison of the figures for the first five weeks
of 1911 and 1912 respectively, which are as follows :—
1911—1st seven weeks' Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Notifications 67
1912— Do. do. 118
Increase 76 per cent.
The New Regulations, as already stated, give power to local
authorities to "supply all such medical or other assistance and all
"such facilities and articles as may reasonably be required for the
"detection of Pulmonary Tuberculosis, and for preventing the
"spread of infection, and for removing conditions favourable to
"infection, and for that purpose the Council may appoint such
"additional officers and make such arrangements as may be neces"
sary."
It is clear from this that an extension of the work at present
being carried on by the Council in connection with Pulmonary
Tuberculosis is indicated. In their circular letter accompanying
the Board's Order, in the paragraph headed " Powers and Duties of
Councils," the Board state:—"In certain cases it is no doubt