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42
WOMAN INSPECTOR'S REPORT.
Re Inquiry into Cases of Consumption voluntarily notified during the year 1907.
To the Medical Officer of Health.
Sir,
I submit a report on the work done during the year 1907 in connection with
the voluntary notification of Consumption.
By far the greatest number of notifications came from the various officers of
the Guardians. Although little can be done for the actual patients so notified,
these notifications are very valuable. The families of such patients are often
much in need of such information as can be given by this Authority. The
dwellings from which the patients have been removed are often those in which
disinfection or special cleansing is most required, and the cases are interesting
from the investigation point of view, combining, as they often do, the medical,
economic, social and moral factors in the consumption problem. Many of these
cases are by no means of the pauper class; they are driven to the Infirmary
because no other institution is open to them.
No difficulties have arisen in connection with the work, and the visits have
been well received. Great care is, however, necessary in dealing with persons
in these distressing circumstances. In no case is the investigation so pressed
as to be painful to the patient or annoying to the famity.
Disinfection after the removal or death of a patient has always been advised,
but no attempt has been made to excite great alarm as to the dangers of
infection. To do so while the means of dealing with cases are utterly
inadequate seems a useless type of cruelty.
Where disinfection has been refused it has usually been possible to press for
thorough cleansing and aeration of the rooms.
In some blocks of dwellings the rooms are said to be fumigated after the
removal of every tenant whether ill or well.
In cases where the patient had previously been in Infirmary, Hospital or
Sanatoriums the necessity for precaution was well understood.
I have given careful attention to the following points:—
(a) The beginning of the disease in the patient notified.
(b) Cases of contacts apparently in danger of contracting the disease.
(c) Means of helping affected individuals and families.
(a) In a considerable number of cases the patient contracted consumption
after recovery from some other disease. It seems desirable that convalescents
should be advised to consult their doctor before, or soon after, returning to
active work, even though their recovery appears to be fairly complete.
The number of cases of " underfed " is noteworthy, and, coupled with the
number of cases reported from Rowton Houses and common lodging houses,
shows how close is the connection of this problem with social and economic
questions.
I have noted carefully the conditions of employment of the patients where
this information could be obtained. A list of the occupations, classified mainly