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39
One patient gave a common lodging house address, but he
could not be traced there.
Only 44 patients out of 150 were able to have a bed and bedroom all to themselves.
In the 68 other households, where only one bed was available,
84 persons slept in the same bed with the consumptives, and
were consequently exposed to infection. This number refers to
those families which only possessed one bed. In addition to
these, there were 88 persons who occupied the same bedroom as
a phthisical patient, and in some instances the same bed. Twelve
bedrooms were dark, or had insufficient light. The ventilation was
insufficient in one other bedroom, and six bedrooms were stuffy.
The defective ventilation and absence of ventilation greatly facilitates
the spread of the disease. It is difficult sometimes to suggest
means by which it may be overcome—occasionally owners have
been induced to place gratings in the walls. Unfortunately, even
when they have been provided, the occupants have been known to
stuff the aperture with rags, and thus render these gratings useless. All the bedrooms occupied by consumptives had fireplaces.
It is extremely important that every room used for human habitation should have a fireplace or means of communication with the
outer air in addition to the window frame.
Four bedrooms had dirty walls and ceilings; of these, one
was also verminous. In 14 instances the patients were said to
be of careless habit. In one room the bedding was fouled by the
patient's sputum.
The Kitchen.—In 78 instances or 52 per cent. of the whole
number of cases, the kitchen was being used as a living room
and a sleeping room. This is one index of poverty, and shows
the difficulties of accommodation and the facilities for infection
which accrue in these poor households. Sometimes the patient
himself occupies the kitchen by day and night. Six of the
kitchens were dirty and one was also verminous.