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45
DEPUTATION TO THE METROPOLITAN ASYLUMS BOARD.
The paper on The Need, of Sanatoria for Persons Suffering from Consumption* read at
a meeting of the Couucil of the Charity Organisation Society in October, 1904, gave rise to a
discussion in which the Chairman of the Council of the National Association for the Prevention of
Consumption, the President of the Society of Medical Officers of Health, the Secretary of the Metropolitan
Hospital Sunday Fund, the Secretary of the Metropolitan Hospital Saturday Fund, and
the Chairman (also an ex-Chairman) of the Works Committee of the Metropolitan Asylums
Board, took part. On the motion of Sir William Broadbent, the paper and the discussion upon
it were referred to the Administrative Committee with an instruction to report thereon to the
Council at some subsequent meeting. The Administrative Committee convened a Conference for
consideration of the reference to which, amongst others, the MedicAl Officers of Health and the
Medical Superintendents of the Poor Law Infirmaries were invited. The Conference, held in
January, 1905, (Sir William Broadbent being in the chair), unanimously passed resolutions as
follows:—
1. "That it is of urgent importance that further and more complete public provision
be made for cases of phthisis.
2. "That it is desirable that provision be made by the Metropolitan Asylums Board
for persons suffering from phthisis who are, or may from time to time become, chargeable
to the poor rates.
3. "That the Council of the Charity Organisation Society approach the following
Societies, amongst others, with a view to these or similar resolutions being submitted to
the Local Government Board, jointly; viz., the Society of Medical Officers of Health, the
National Association for the Prevention of Consumption, the National Health Society, and
the Royal Sanitary Institute."
The Secretary of the Society subsequently enquired of each of the societies named, whether
they would co-operate with the Charity Organisation Society with a view to the submission of
the resolutions to the Local Government Board, or otherwise? pointing out that they "do not
"deal with the large number of phthisical cases which are to be found outside the poor-law;"
the Conference having been of opinion that " it would be best to deal with the question of poor"law
cases only in the first instance."
The Society of Medical Officers of Health (Metropolitan Branch) thought the better course
would be to approach the Metropolitan Asylums Board, and resolved to organise a representative
deputation to wait upon the Managers in support of the prayer of a Memorial which I was requested
to draft, in which it was shown—
1. That between 7,000 and 8,000 persons (of whom the large majority are adults in
the prime of life) die every year in London from pulmonary phthisis (consumption), the
mortality in the male sex being some 40 per cent. greater than in the female sex; and
that a much larger number of persons (also chiefly adults) suffer from ill-health arising
from the same disease.
2. That great loss accrues to the community from these deaths, and this morbidity,
from pulmonary phthisis (consumption), and many deaths, and much illness and suffering
might be prevented, were hospitals provided for the treatment of this disease.
3. That persons suffering from pulmonary phthisis (consumption) may be divided,
roughly, into two classes; (1) Those in the primary stage of the disease, which is curable
and not specially infectious; and (2) Those in the chronic stage of the disease, which is
incurable and very infectious.
4. That for those in the primary stage of the disease, hospitals are required wherein
the patients may be treated with a view to cure; and for those in the chronic stage, refuges
wherein the patients may be isolated so as to be prevented from spreading the disease to
others.
5. That the existing provision of hospitals for pulmonary phthisis (consumption) in
London is totally inadequate; and that, in connection with such provision as there is, great
difficulty (and consequent delay) is experienced in obtaining admittance thereto ; more
especially when, as usually is the case, the "letter" system prevails, rendering it necessary
for patients not only to have to wait long for their turn, and so lose the advantage of
special and valuable treatment in the early stage of the disease, but also to find that,
when admitted, they are rarely kept in hospital long enough to obtain a cure.
* The paper was printed in my annual report for 1904, page 35.