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In addition there was, as is shown in the portion of the report dealing with
Departmental matters, an increase in the amount of work done for the improvement of
sanitary conditions generally, which exercises a certain influence in relation to this as
other diseases.
Regular visits and revisits have been paid to the homes of notified persons by the
women inspectors, by the officials of the dispensary, and the voluntary workers of the
St. Marylebone Health Society.
Work of the Women Inspectors.—The work of the women inspectors in
connection with consumption is largely educative.
The patients visited are advised as to the methods to be adopted for their own
protection and that of those associated with them.
If they seem to be in need of medical treatment and are unable to obtain it they
are advised to go to the Dispensary where advice and treatment are provided, and, in
addition, all the members of their families are examined and if found to be infected
put at once under treatment.
Patients in need of sanatorium or other institutional treatment are put in the way
of getting it through the Health Society, the Dispensary or other bodies.
If relief of other kinds seems necessary these and other bodies are appealed to.
During the visits to the homes of the patients investigations are made into the
source of infection and so on, and special note is made of any factor which may seem
to have played a part in the production of the disease.
If disinfection of clothing, etc., seems likely to be of use in connection with the
prevention of spread of infection, arrangements are made for having it carried out.
The actual number of visits and re-visits paid by the inspectors was 566. The
patients removed to hospital numbered 162. The number of disinfections carried out
was 113.
Of the 566 visits, 152 were re-visits, this part of the work being largely done by
the Dispensary staff and the voluntary workers of the Health Society, to whom cases
notified otherwise than from the Dispensary were handed after the first visit was paid,
if further re-visits seemed necessary.
Cases notified direct from the Dispensary were not visited unless by special
request, all particulars with regard to them being obtained from the records kept at
the Dispensary.
Phthisis Investigations.—At the request of the Medical Officer of Health of the
London County Council, who, as already mentioned, is desirous of obtaining statistical
information regarding cases of pulmonary tuberculosis from all the boroughs, the facts
elicited at the visits of the inspectors are tabulated below. Unfortunately past records
made and kept with regard to the cases do not contain all the information asked for,
but as far as possible the various columns have been filled up. If no information was
obtained or obtainable the spaces have been marked with a transverse line.
The cases referred to number 432—males 228 ; females 204.
Figures relating to grandparents are printed in brackets.