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desirable that the local authority should be able to offer Sanatorium
treatment, and for this the powers of the Public Health Act, 1875,
and the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, are available. Under
these powers local authorities may either themselves provide
Sanatoria or may contract for the use of such institutions."
It is open, therefore, to the Council to make provision for Sanatorium
treatment for inhabitants of the Borough suffering from
Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Such a policy on the part of the Council
would, having regard to the needs of an industrial population, such as
that which comprises the majority of the inhabitants of the Borough,
be of great assistance in supplementing the value of the work already
being carried out by the Council. Sanatorium accommodation
could be obtained at a cost from £70 to £80 per bed per annum, and
the allocation of, say, half a dozen beds per annum would be of great
assistance in dealing with such suitable cases as from time to time
come to my knowledge. Several of the Metropolitan Boroughs have
already availed themselves of the powers to provide Sanatorium
accommodation suggested by the Board. It may be desirable,
however, to postpone consideration of this suggestion until the
arrangements as to the Sanatorium provision contained in the
National Insurance Act are completed.
In dealing with the arrangements for carrying out the work in
connection with the Tuberculosis Regulations it will be necessary
to bear in mind the personnel of the Staff of the Health Department
and the nature of their duties. At the present time the
staff consists as follows :—
Indoor Staff.
1 Chief Clerk. 3 Third-class Clerks.
1 Second-class Clerk. 1 Office Youth.
Outdoor Staff.
1 Chief Inspector.
1 Food Inspector.
1 Factory and Workshop
Inspector.
8 District Inspectors.
1 Female Sanitary Inspector.
1 Health Visitor.
Drain-testers, Disinfectors, &c.
In February, 1911, the Female Workshop Inspector resigned
her post, and the vacancy thus caused has not been filled.
Since my appointment as Medical Officer of Health for the
Borough in April, 1906, a great increase in the work of the Health
Department has taken place owing to recent Legislative Enactments
and Departmental Orders, either directly or indirectly affecting the
Department. I herewith submit a list of these Enactments, &c.,