View report page

12
ON THE SAN ITATI Y CONDITION OF
For many years the medical officer of health has been allowed
to do battle against tuberculosis almost single.handed; but there
are now signs that not only the medical profession, but the general
public also, are awaking to an appreciation of the facts, and with
such assistance tuberculosis should be banished from among us.
To do this however requires the co.operation of every member
of the community. It is too often thought by the public that
matters affecting the general well.being of the people at large
should be left entirely to those who are elected as representatives
on Sanitary Authorities and to their officers, but it is no less the
duty of everyone to bear their share in the work of removing those
conditions which promote the development and spread of disease.
It is now clearly recognised that tubercular disease is conveyed
to the young by means of milk from affected cows, and that
tubercular meat is also an agent in disseminating the disease.
Samples of milk coming into Manchester and Liverpool from the
country have been examined and 16 per cent, of them have been
found to contain the tubercular organism, showing the need of
stricter supervision of the places where the cows are kept. The
one thing necessary to prevent consumption whether it be in
man or in animals is pure air and plenty of it. Wherever
conditions exist, that shut out air and light, there the tubercular
organism flourishes whether it be in the dwelling, the workshop,
or the cowshed. The high mortality from this class of disease
which characterises the central parishes of London, has been
referred to by me in former reports, and until better houses are
provided for the very poor, and congested districts are opened up
so as to remove what may be fitly termed "hot beds" of the
disease, little can be done to check it.
Short of the removal of the conditions favourable to tuberculosis,
the treatment of cases at an early stage in the disease is of
the greatest importance as affording the sufferer a means of entirely
recovering. Once the disease has reached an advanced stage, cure
is almost hopeless, and the matter the patient coughs up from his
lungs teems with germs which may be the cause of others being
affected; but in the early stage of the disease, cure can be effected
if the patient is taken from his unhealthy surroundings and
placed under suitable conditions. The rich can secure these
benefits readily, but the poorer classes cannot do so, and must often
struggle on at their work as long as they possibly can in order to
support themselves and those depending upon them. The
provision of Sanatoria for those who cannot help themselves or
who can pay but a small contribution towards expenses, should be
provided either by the benevolent or by Local Authorities.