View report page

21
The same measures directed to the prevention of the
spread of infective diseases were employed as heretofore,
but to a greater extent. Every case of such disease
brought to the notice of the Medical Officer of Health
was immediately removed to Hospital that could possibly
be so dealt with; failing which, disinfectants were supplied,
and as soon as the recovery of the patient permitted, the
house was disinfected by sulphur-fumigation. On the
occurrence of a death from infective disease, the house
in which such death took place, irrespective of the social
position of its occupants, was visited by the Inspector
and measures adopted for its disinfection. The houses
requiring such procedure were fortunately not so numerous
as in the preceding year, and out of 342 that underwent
the process, in 4 instances only was a repetition found
necessary.
This well marked result speaks for itself in favour of
the mode of procedure adopted, which it may be observed,
constitutes the every day routine pursued at the present
time. It is much to be regretted however, that the most
important part of its administration viz:—“isolation" of
the sick by removal to Hospital, admits of partial application
only, inasmuch as Measles, Whooping-Cough and
Diphtheria are as yet unprovided for in the Asylum
District Board Hospitals. Before the suppression of these
preventible diseases can be attempted with success, it
will be necessary for hospital accommodation to be extended
to the reception of all diseases of the epidemic
class. For this purpose Local Hospitals would be
required, and notwithstanding some obvious difficulties,
smaller hospitals in smaller areas would be more
satisfactorily employed for many reasons, of which
facility of access with consequently greater safety in the
removal of patients is not the least important.