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that the habit is commonly acquired in early life, and if young offenders were
punished for indulging in such a filthy practice it would be speedily discontinued,
and it was not too much to expect that the hearty co-operation of
all teachers would be secured in an endeavour to stamp out the evil.
This suggestion was adopted and a circular letter to the above effect sent to
all schools in the City.
In replying to this circular, the Clerk to the School Board stated on the
10th November, 1903, that the Board purposed issuing a Notice in their
Gazette advising teachers who give lessons in Hygiene that they would do
well to impress upon their scholars the dangers of spitting in public places.
As evidence of the growing interest taken by the public in the direction of
the prevention of Tuberculosis, it should be mentioned that it is now a common
thing to be requested by heads of firms, who have members of their staff
suffering from Phthisis, to advise as to the proper precautionary measures
that should be taken in the circumstances, and it is pleasing to note that in all
cases they gladly act on the advice given.
A circular letter issued by the Corporation on the subject of Tuberculosis
in animals slaughtered for food will be found on page 112.
In the course of the year every endeavour has been made to bring to the
notice of the several railway companies whose system enters the City the
beneficial results that would ensue if more general and systematic measures
were taken in the cleansing and disinfection of railway stations, platforms,
and carriages.
Although we have not been entirely successful in inducing all the companies
to adopt our suggestions, much has been done in this direction, and it is
gratifying to note that many of them have gladly accepted our good offices
in our efforts on behalf of the public health.
Great advance has been made in the exhibition of Notices warning
passengers of the danger from spitting in railway carriages, and on platforms,
stations, &c. The majority of the companies have adopted this means of
stamping out an admitted primary cause of much evil, and there is every
reason to hope that they will in the near future be adopted by all railway
companies.
With regard to the important question as to the best mode of cleaning
railway compartments, it may serve a useful purpose to refer to the perfect
manner in which the work is performed by the vacuum system of cleansing.
This method is adopted by the Great Eastern Railway Company and the City
and South London Railway Company, and its more general employment
would undoubtedly be a distinct advantage over the old and incomplete
method with its attendant dangers to health.