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The home of every case notified is visited personally by the medical officer of health, Dr. King
Brown, an inspection of the house is made and an inquiry into the patient's circumstances. General
directions are given for the regimen of the patient, and for precautions against spreading infection.
Carbolic acid solution is supplied by the Borough Council for cleansing floors and such purposes, and
spitcups are also supplied. Facilities are provided by the Council for the examination, free of charge,
of specimens of sputum. Disinfection of the premises is offered and usually carried out on the death
or removal of the patient. Beyond this, however, little can be done; inadequacy of staff makes it
impossible to keep patients or their homes under continuous observation, to ameliorate the condition
of patients, or to examine contacts. There is no Health Society, and the Borough Council does not
retain sanatorium beds.
■ )
Borough of Bethnal Green.
During the year 1908, in an estimated population of 131,066, there were 215 deaths from phthisis.
Prior to the present year, 1909, there was no system of notification, and with the exception
of a few cases brought to the notice of the sanitary authority by the Jewish Board of Guardians, the
first intimation of a case was from the deaths returns. The medical officer of health, Dr. Bate, states
that he would welcome compulsory notification of the disease. On receipt of a notification
under the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1908, a sanitary inspection is made of the
premises and a card of advice as to the prevention of the spread of consumption is left. Inquiry is
also made into the personal circumstances of the patient. It is not possible, owing to want of staff,
for the case to be followed up, or the premises kept under observation. Disinfection is performed
on the death of the patient. The medical officer of health is unable to visit cases personally, and no
examination of contacts is possible for the discovery of secondary cases. No special measures are
taken for the amelioration of patients; there is no charitable society to which cases are referred, and
the Borough Council does not retain sanatorium beds. The Council undertakes to have sputum
examined free of charge for any practitioner who forwards a specimen for that purpose. Sputum flasks
for patients are not provided by the Council.
The deaths since the year 1902 have been as follow:—
Year.
Cases notified.
Deaths from phthisis.
1902
-
260
1903
-
272
1904
-
280
1905
-
265
1906
-
293
1907
-
248
1908
-
215
Borough of Camber well.
318 deaths from phthisis were recorded during the year 1908, the estimated population being
280,022. Voluntary notification has never been in force, and until this year the only information
of cases was derived from the death returns. The medical officer of health, Dr. Francis Stevens,
visits the home of each case now notified under the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1908,
and a sanitary inspection is also made, as well as an inquiry into the circumstances of each patient.
General directions are given as to the regimen of the patient and as to taking precautions to prevent the
spread of infection. Following this the male sanitary inspector of the district pays a visit every two
months and is thus enabled to keep the case under observation. Disinfection is performed upon death
or removal of the patient, and at other times as occasion requires. Very few secondary cases come to
light, and these are advised by the medical officer of health to seek examination by their own medical
attendant or by a Poor Law medical officer. It is not practicable to make a systematic medical examination
of contacts. The Borough Council retains no sanatorium beds, and it does not refer cases to any
charitable or health society. Little can be done to ameliorate the condition of the individual
patient.
The Council undertakes to have sputum bacteriologically examined for medical practitioners
free of charge, but does not provide sputum flasks for patients.
Year.
Cases notified.
Deaths from phthisis.
1902
—
402
1903
—
323
1904
—
368
1905
—
327
1906
—
344
1907
—
362
1908
—
318
Borough of Chelsea.
From phthisis during the year 1908 there died 97 persons, the population being estimated at 75,049.