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43
according to the features said by the patients to have affected them injuriously,
is attached.
With regard to housing, the most important point is the usual absence of
separate sleeping rooms for the patients.
In the table attached 63 persons are returned as sleeping in a room alone :
but in many cases, probably two-thirds of the number, this room was, during
the day, the living room of the whole family, the families occupying not more
than two or three rooms and the consumptive's room generally being warmed
by the only fire.
(b) The opportunity of gaining access to the susceptible members of the
family of a consumptive is one of the main advantages of the notification.
Enquiry as to the health of the other members of the family is always made
and the advisability of seeking medical advice without delay is impressed. The
poor are referred to suitable agencies for help where necessary, and young
persons are advised to join social clubs where, it is hoped, the responsible persons
will feel some interest in their health.
The care of the other members of a patient's family is among the portions of
the work well worth development. It is not possible to prove this by statistics
for this year's work for various reasons ; but in one part of the year in which
more careful enquiry into this point was possible nearly one-third of the
enquiries gave cases of contacts likely to become consumptives.
(c) The further provisions required may be briefly stated:—
(1) More special hospital accommodation for advanced cases, especially
by the Metropolitan Asylums Board.
(2) Home treatment for certain cases, including separate bedrooms for
patients and in some cases also additional fat foods or cod liver oil.
(3) After-care for patients returning from hospital or sanatorium or for
patients treated at home, including attention to home conditions
and to the provision of open air work or open workrooms.
(4) Preventive treatment for the susceptible members of families known
to be affected, and for convalescents generally, such as periodical
medical examination, personal health measures, and timely recuperation
at country convalescent homes.
(5) Kitchens at which invalid food could be obtained. Many persons
able to pay for such food are unable to obtain it or to cook it.
(6) For children affected or in danger, special schools or special classes
in existing schools.
I have to acknowledge very gratefully help received from various individuals
and organisations in the district for the individual cases referred to them, and
I believe that if these various agencies could be brought into co-operation for
the further dealing with the difficulties of this disease much valuable work
might be done.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
M. E. Bibby,
Sanitary Inspector.