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58
of the Metropolis of some of their chronic cases of pulmonary tuberculosis,,
perhaps along this indirect line less resistance might be offered to taking part
in the combat against tuberculosis from a prevent ire point of view.
(e) THE COMPULSORY NOTIFICATION OF CONSUMPTION.
On the 9th May, 1906, T made a report upon the subject of the compulsory
notification of phthisis, which is so important that it should be quoted here.
" Pursuant to instruction, I beg to report upon the various communications
that have been received in reference to the notification of phthisis in London.
These communications are a letter from the Clerk to the London Country
Council, dated 25tli January, with further letter, dated 26th April; from the
Town Clerk of Woolwich, dated 16th February; from the Town Clerk of
Finsbury, dated 22nd February; from the National Association of Consumption
and other forms of Tuberculosis, dated February; from the Clerk of the
Kingston Union, dated February; and from the Town Clerk of Stepney, dated
5th April.
The London County Council asks whether the St. Pancras Borough Council
is of opinion:—
(a) That phthisis should be declared under the Public Health (London)
Act, 1891, to be a notifiable infectious disease; or
(b) That the system of voluntary notification of the disease should be
adopted throughout London, and that particulars as to patients
attending hospitals and dispensaries should be obtained and circulated
to each Borough.
As to the Voluntary Notification.
Voluntary notification has been adopted by all the Boroughs north of the
Thames except Paddington and the group of 5 East End Boroughs, namely
Bethnal Green, Shoreditch, Hackney, Stepney, and Poplar.
Paddington appears to have voluntary notification in contemplation, so that
it is only the group of 5 East End Boroughs of the 19 Boroughs north of theThames
(including the City of London) that will not possess voluntary
notification, and Hackney already in favour ; and of the 10 Boroughs south of
the Thames 6 have adopted voluntary notification and 4 have not, these 4 being
Battersea, Camberwell, Deptford, and Lewisham, and the last 3 have already
resolved in favour of voluntary notification.
It is obvious that within the last few years the London Boroughs have been
gradually adopting the voluntary notification of Phthisis, and but very little
pressure would cause some of those who have not yet adopted it to do so.
Therefore the question of the London County Council, whether it is advisable
that the system of voluntary notification should be adopted throughout London,
practically answers itself, as it is probable that voluntary notification will be
adopted universally by the Boroughs.