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The Borough Council has given very earnest consideration to this
subject. During the year 1924 a special sub-committee was formed to
consider the question, and to advise the Council as to any action the
Council could take in combating it. The composition of this special
committee is rather noteworthy, as the Council decided to invite the
local division of the British Medical Association to nominate certain of
its members to co-operate with them, and the local division appointed
three of its members to confer with the sub-committee. The presence
of three medical gentlemen was of great assistance, and I trust that the
co-operation between the Health Authority and the general practitioners
will continue and be extended to other subjects.
At the suggestion of the Medical Officer of Health, this special
committee agreed to discuss the question under the following headings:—
The question of disinfection.
The need for diagnostic aid to local practitioners.
The advisability of issuing leaflets and posters.
The question of the sufficiency of hospital beds for advanced cases.
The final recommendations of the Conference, endorsed by the
Public Health Committee, were approved by the Borough Council on
24th July, 1924. They were as follow:—
(1) re Disinfection or Destruction of Articles used by Cancer Patients:—
(a) That the Medical Officer of Health be authorised to offer
disinfection after all deaths from cancer.
(b) That it be left to the discretion of the Medical Officer of
Health as to whether the existing charges for this service
should be made in the case of the poorer residents of the
Borough.
(c) That when the bedding or clothing has been fouled by
discharge the residents be advised to allow such bedding
to be burned.