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In any case in which disinfection seemed to be called for, if the patient were
moving and so on, arrangements were made for disinfection of rooms, clothing, etc.
If any conditions on the premises calling for attention were found, e.g., defects
in sanitation, uncleanliness, defects in ventilation, and so on, steps were taken to have
these remedied either by means of persuasion or under the Public Health Act and
other appropriate Acts.
That works of this kind are done and that they play a very definite part in the
prevention of infectious diseases, and this disease more especially, must not be
overlooked.
There always has been a tendency to belittle the importance of attention to
sanitation as a part of the system of prevention. It is unfortunate that such should
be the case. It should be grasped that every effort made to improve sanitation is an
effort made on behalf of the consumptive and the prevention of consumption. Action
taken directly in relation to the patient is not the only kind that produces results.
Practically everything done by the Council in connection with the carrying out of
their duties and powers in relation to public health—care of the food supply,
improvement of housing, removal of nuisances, and the others that mean improved
surroundings for the individual—all these play their part and must be credited with a
share in any reduction in the amount of consumption that may occur.
Of the whole of this report it may be said that it is a record of work done for
the prevention of consumption just as it is a record of work done for the prevention
of infantile mortality or of enteric fever and any other disease.
Under the heading "Departmental" will be found a description of the works of
sanitation carried out during the year. The figures and details given show how
extensive it has been and how it has increased in amount.
It is only because it is inconvenient to do so that all that is written there is not
placed under the side-heading "Prevention of consumption."
Schemes of Prevention.—During a considerable portion of the year the Public
Health Committee were engaged upon the task of drafting a scheme for the prevention
of consumption within the borough, and considered a number of reports from a
Special Tuberculosis Sub-Committee and the Medical Officer of Health.
The necessity for the formation of a special scheme arose largely out of the
clauses in the National Insurance Act relating to tuberculosis, and the suggestion
that it should be made came from the Local Government Board who issued a
number of memoranda dealing with the question during the year.
In most of these reference was made to the fact that a complete scheme should
consist of three elements, viz.: a dispensary, a sanatorium and accommodation for
persons in advanced stages of the disease, all linked up with one another, and with the
public health organization of the Borough.
That the scheme should contain these elements the Public Health Committee
readily agreed, and even before attention had been directed to the matter by the
Board, the Committee had recognized the necessity, and had formed very definite
opinions with regard to it.