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27
of the disease, etc., and enquires into the sanitary condition of the house. Advice
(printed and verbal) as to the best method of disposing of infected expectoration,
etc., is given, and disinfection of the rooms, clothing and other articles
belonging to the patient is arranged for. If isolation seems urgently called for,
and the patient is poor, assistance in obtaining this is frequently given.
After the first visit, a note of the name and address of the patient is sent to
the St. Marylebone Health Society whose visitors re-visit from time to time,
and see that proper precautions are taken.
Towards the end of the year the Health Society arranged for a visit of the
Anti-Tuberculosis Exhibition to the district, and for several days in December
some of the rooms in the elementary school in Bell Street, Edgware Road, were
given over to a demonstration of various points in connection with the disease.
Large numbers of the inhabitants of the Lisson Grove district visited the
exhibition and took advantage of the instruction given.
During 1909, also, the idea of an Anti-Tuberculosis Dispensary for St.
Marylebone was mooted, and a provisional committee has been formed with the
object of carrying the idea into force. The work of such a dispensary, which
includes examination of patients, visitation of their houses, and, most important
of all, examination of members of the patient's family who have been in contact
with him, would certainly have a marked tendency to reduce the number of
cases of phthisis, and also of deaths from the disease. It is to be hoped that the
attempt at establishment will be successful and that the dispensary will be at
work before long.
A system somewhat resembling that mentioned above has been in operation
in connection with the Brompton Hospital, and certificates are from time to
time received from this institution regarding St. Marylebone patients under
treatment. The Hospital Authorities express themselves as prepared to
examine the contacts in the families of such patients, and during the year this
arrangement was taken advantage of in one case.
In connection with disinfection in the case of phthisis it may be mentioned
that wherever possible, houses are disinfected after death or removal of patients.
During the year disinfection was carried out on account of consumption in 46
instances.
Bacteriological examinations of 77 specimens of expectoration from
doubtful cases of phthisis were made during 1909. Of these, 26 were found to
contain the bacillus of tuberculosis, and in 51 the result was negative.
(The figures relating to forms of tuberculosis other than that of pulmonary
phthisis will be found on page 18.)