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vi
attention to Tuberculosis, and has gradually evolved schemes for dealing
with this disease which resemble so closely those recommended by the
Special Committee appointed to report on the subject in connection with
the Insurance Act, that little alteration is necessary. Additional
facilities will be afforded for the treatment of all forms of this disease,
and if persons suffering can be sent away in an early stage good may
result. Experience, however, shows that it is more satisfactory to
prevent the occurrence of this disease by improving the conditions
under which people live than to attempt to cure those attacked by it.
Hence the Council has sought not only to improve the sanitary conditions
of dwellings and workplaces, but also to raise the standard of
personal hygiene of the inhabitants.
It is now being generally recognised that the conditions under which
the first few years of life are spent have a lasting effect on the subsequent
health of the individual, and during the last year the visiting and teaching
which have been carried out by health visitors has been supplemented
not only by medical examination of children in schools, but also of
children under school age, particulars of which are given in this Report.
If the contention be correct that the seeds of tuberculosis are implanted
in childhood to develop in later years into pulmonary disease, the
increased attention to the health of the children should be rewarded by
a reduction in Phthisis cases in the future.
The Council has continued the special attention it has given for
some years to the purity of the food sold in the City and the sanitary
condition of the places in which it is prepared.
I desire to express my appreciation of the able assistance I have
received from all the staff in the work of the Department.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, my Lords, Lady and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
FRANCIS J. ALLAN,
Medical Officer of Health.
March, 1913.