View report page

9
publish an article both on this and on the occurrence and severity of poliomyelitis in young
children.
Tuberculosis.
349 cases of tuberculosis were notified during the year, of which 255 were primary or
new notifications. The register shows that at the end of the year there were 1,592 persons
in the borough notified as suffering from tuberculosis. This is a decrease of 15 on the previous
year. I think these figures over exaggerate the situation, for it is possible that many of the cases
have left the district or are now cured and I hope to revise the register in due course. However
this may be, it is apparent that approximately 1 per cent. of the population of St. Pancras has
at one time or another been notified as suffering from tuberculosis.
Insofar as it is wise and possible a visit is paid by the district sanitary inspector to every
newly notified case of tuberculosis or to a patient suffering from tuberculosis who has moved
into the borough, in order that advice may be given helpful to the patient in the cure of his
disease and to the community at large in preventing its spread, by an improvement in
environmental conditions. 225 households were visited. The picture is not too satisfactory.
In four cases the only accommodation available to the patient or his family was in the basement.
Only 71 patients were living in self-contained dwellings. 24 families were statutorily overcrowded,
and 51 patients shared a bedroom with children. On the other hand in 135 cases the
patient had a separate bed and in 83 of these the patient had a room to himself. Ventilation
and lighting were inadequate in 5 cases and dampness was present in 29. Sanitary defects
were serious enough in 65 cases to warrant the service of a notice, and in my opinion this alone
justifies the visits carried out by the sanitary inspectors. Records show that some 21 families
upon whom we reported in 1951, and three investigated during 1952 were re-housed during
the year. The Council will appreciate that frequent visits are made to the public health
department by persons living in the same house as a patient suffering from tuberculosis,
demanding rehousing in order to avoid risk of infection to themselves or their children. Such
requests are very easily understandable. I am of opinion, however, that the risk of infection
by the use of a common water supply, bathroom or water closet, which is often the case in the
borough, is not serious. It is constant contact between the infectious sufferer and, in particular,
young children which must be guarded against. I would go further. A sufferer from tuberculosis,
by an understanding of his disease and by the practice of simple but strict hygienic precautions,
can minimise to a very large extent the chance of his conveying tuberculosis to those with
whom he comes in contact.
Compulsory Purchase Orders.
The Council's Sanitary Inspectors' technical knowledge is utilised in connection with
the compulsory acquisition of property.
For the purpose of the preliminary report to the Council the area to be acquired is surveyed
and certain data collected and tabulated. This informs the Council of the size of the area, the
condition of the premises and the number of adults and children in each house and in the area
as a whole. The survey also indicates the number and type of new units of accommodation
which will be required to re-house the residents.
Care of the Aged.
The work of the St. Pancras Association for the Care of the Aged has continued during
1952 in happy co-operation with the services of the Council.