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276
PUERPERAL FEVER.
Under Puerperal Fever are included deaths from Pyaemia
and Septicaemia occurring in lying in women. One case was
notified during the year; and there was no death from this disease.
PHTHISIS (CONSUMPTION) AND OTHER FORMS OF
TUBERCULOSIS.
Eighty.five cases of Consumption were notified under the
Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1912.
Forty.three of the notified cases were insured under the Insurance
Act.
Nurse A. Ager, who is appointed to give part.time services
in connection with the Tuberculosis work within the Borough, has,
acting under the instruction of the Medical Officer of the
Tuberculosis Dispensaiy, and myself, dealt with 78 different cases,
making in all 338 visits in 1918.
The value of our present measures against Tuberculosis is
seriously discounted by the failure to make the scheme sufficiently
comprehensive.
The persons who disseminate large quantities of the germs of
Consumption during coughing and expectoration, while living
in intimate contact with their families, are the most serious
element of danger in the spread of the disease; for the close association
of Tuberculosis with bad housing is admitted by all. Therefore,
the preventive measures of first importance are (1) better
housing; (2) effective measures to render the spread of infection
impossible when once the infective person has been discovered.
For advanced (non.sanatorium) cases homes should be
provided which are local, inexpensive, and conducted on hospital
fines; and these should be under the care of the Dispensary
Medical Officer.