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14
In other words, the sub-districts in which the different
forms of Tubercle ere most rife or most fatal were the
Rectory and St. Mary. There is no significance whatever to
be ascribed to the high rate for the Rectory because it contains
the Workhouse, and a good proportion of the deaths in the
Workhouse cannot be assigned to the sub-districts to which
they properly belong.
In the early part of the year the writer was requested
by the Sanitary Committee to make a report as to what steps,
if any, could be taken by the Sanitary Authority to prevent
the spread of Consumption. The report was published in the
Monthly Report for February.
The measures recommended were briefly as follows: —
A system of voluntary notification.
Hospital provision for cases urgently in need of isolation
and medical attention, in one or more of the excellent public
institutions already existing for the study and cure of
Consumption, by means of an annual payment to such
institutions.
Free disinfection of rooms or matters presumed to be
infected with tuberculous matters.
The distribution of a leaflet containing simple directions
relating to the malady.
The establishment of a bacteriological laboratory at the
Court House, for the purpose of examining, bacteriologically,
such articles of food as milk, and also for general purposes.
The Sanitary Committee reported in favour of all these
proposals, but they did not come definitely before the Vestry
until quite the end of the year. After a long discussion it
was agreed to disinfect free of charge, to print a leaflet
of instructions as to the prevention of Consumption, and
to invite the medical practitioners to voluntarily notify.
The subscriptions to Consumptive Hospitals, and the
establishment of a bacteriological Laboratory were both
negatived; nevertheless a large number of the Members of
the Local Authority were evidently in favour of the whole
scheme.