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7
Circular Letter A.
Dear Sir,
Re Tuberculosis and its Prevention.
In a report which has been presented by me to
the Sanitary Committee, and adopted by the Vestry, I have
pointed out the infectious nature of Tuberculosis (more
especially Phthisis or Consumption), and the necessity that
exists for the thorough disinfection and cleansing of all
rooms (and contents) recently occupied by patients so
suffering, and which have been rendered vacant by the
deaths or removals of such patients—there being evidence
in Lambeth (and elsewhere) of Tuberculosis being spread
from person to person by means of such rooms. The
Vestry has, accordingly, decided to disinfect, free of cost,
all tuberculosis-infected rooms, beddings, carpets, curtains,
&c., and I shall be glad if you will kindly inform me, from
time to time, of any such rooms or articles that you think
require disinfection.
I am further instructed by the Vestry to send a letter,
pointing out the benefits of disinfection and cleansing, and
offering disinfection, free of cost, to the occupiers of houses
or rooms in which deaths from Tuberculosis have taken
place, as shown by the Registrar's weekly returns; and in
this connection I shall be glad of your co-operation in
persuading the occupiers to have such disinfection and
cleansing carried out. The cleansing with soap and water
of all floors and woodwork, the white-washing of ceilings,
the stripping off (and burning) of the papers from the walls
of infected rooms, the thorough ventilation of all premises,
&c., are, I need not remind you, measures of as great
importance as disinfection; but such measures must be
carried out afterwards by the occupiers or owners.
I may add that the Vestry is now in possession of means
whereby the sputa of patients may be examined bacteriologically
for the presence of the bacilli tuberculosis ; and
such examinations will be made by the Vestry for Medical
men free of cost, on receiving samples at the Public Health
Department, and must prove of the utmost importance and