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74 Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
The deaths from consumption occur at different age periods
to those from Zymotic diseases, and, from a financial aspect, at
more valuable periods.
Take, for example, the deaths occurring in the year 1901. Of
259 deaths at all ages from consumption, 44 occurred from 15 to
25, and 188 from 25 to 65, leaving only 27 at all other ages.
From the five most fatal Zymotic diseases 200 deaths occurred,
46 under one year, 107 from 1 to 5 years, 36 from 5 to 15 years,
leaving only 11 occurring at all the other ages.
In view of the above statistics, i am of opinion that something
further ought to be done to prevent this disease, more especially
as the public are beginning to realise that it can be prevented.
This Council has in the past done something by the distributton
of circulars and by disinfecting the rooms, clothing, etc.,
where a death from consumption occurred, but if a voluntary system
of notification be agreed upon a great deal more could be done,
more especially in the more closely-populated localities, and among
the poorer ratepayers of the Borough.
The objects to be obtained by notification are : —
(1) It will enable the Medical Officer to keep a register of
houses in which consumption cases occur, so that the
necessary disinfection may be carried out on change
of tenant.
2) It will afford opportunities for inspecting the Sanitary
condition of the premises, of remedying overcrowding,
and of advising as far as is practicable the isolation
of the patient.
(3.) It will afford opportunities of giving advice by means
of printed matter to those in charge of such patients
regarding the infectivity of the disease, and the means
to be used to prevent its spread.
(4) it will enable your Medical Officer to make inquiries
as to sources of infection.
(5) It will enable the Sanitary Staff to periodically see to
the disinfection of the room and clothing of the
patient.