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70
CONSUMPTION.
On the 11 th October the Borough Council resolved that a system of voluntary
notification of pulmonary phthisis be inaugurated in the Borough, at the sum
allowed for notification under the notifiable Infectious Diseases Clauses. This,,
combined with the provision made in the previous year for the Bacteriological
Examination of spurtum from suspicious cases of pulmonary tuberculosis,,
enabled a scheme to be framed for dealing with this disease.
The following circular letter with enclosures was sent to every Medical
Practitioner in St. Pancas, and within a quarter of a mile of the border of the
Borough, and to the Public Institutions in St. Pancras and Special Institutions
outside:—
ST. PANCRAS BOROUGH COUNCIL.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Pancras Road, N.W.
January Ist, 190l>
Voluntary Notification of Pulmonary Phthisis or Consumption,
Dear Sir,
In 1903 the St. Pancras Borough Council resolved to provide for the
Bacteriological Examination of Sputum in doubtful cases of pulmonary tuberculosis
for the purpose of diagnosis, and in the outfit of the diagnosis box you
received a form of directions as to the procedure necessary to obtain the results
of a Bacteriological Examination.
Recently the Borough Council resolved to adopt the voluntary notification
of pulmonary phthisis at the same fee allowed for notification under the
Notifiable Infectious Diseases Clauses. The patient's assent should be obtained
before notifying. I beg to enclose herewith a book of Medical Certificate
Forms for this purpose.
A Register will be kept of all cases notified both as a record of the disease
and as a matter of account.
The notification will be treated as confidential, and nothing will be done to
prej itdice the patient's occupation or employment.
Upon the receipt of your certificate, there will be sent by post to the patient
(1) a leaflet upon how to prevent the spread of consumption; (2) a list of
institutions for the segration at home or elsewhere of advanced cases, and
special treatment of pronounced and incipient cases; and (3) a form for the
disinfection of a room previously occupied by a consumptive. I beg to enclose
you herewith a copy of each of these three.