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Prevention of Consumption.—The methods followed thoughout 1913 in relation
to the prevention of consumption were substantially those in vogue in previous years.
The extension of compulsory notification to other forms of tuberculosis led to
an increase in the number of visits paid by the women inspectors, but in these cases,
apart from advising as to the obtaining of treatment nothing more could be done
than in the case of pulmonary tuberculosis.
A great part of the work carried out is, of course, educational, and what the
patient and those in charge of or in contact with him are taught has frequently
been described in previous reports.
The practice of insisting upon the importance of early detection of the disease,
of encouraging contacts to submit themselves to examination, and ot making
arrangements for them to be examined, has been continued.
The greatest assistance in this connection was received from the Dispensary in
Allsop Place, the Middlesex Hospital, and other institutions in the Borough. The
body responsible for the first named continued to assist greatly in the work of
preventing consumption, providing special facilities for children, and taking large
numbers into the open air school which they have formed in Regent's Park.
Apart from such work as is described above there were, of course, what may be
described as the ordinary "sanitary" works. Disinfection of premises, clothing, and
so on was carried out on request and in any case in which it seemed necessary.
Immediate action was taken with regard to conditions calling for attention,
whenever such were detected in the course of visits to premises, and the call for
many of the improvements in housing, which are described later, arose after receipt
of a tuberculosis notification form and the visitation following it.
The importance of the part played by such work in relation to the prevention
of tuberculosis has already been described and need not again be enlarged upon.
Schemes of Prevention.—Not till the end of the year was any progress made
with the drafting of a scheme for the prevention of consumption within the
Borough, and then only the dispensary portion was considered.
The main cause of the delay was an uncertainty as to whether or not the
Borough Council was to be the body responsible for the formation of schemes,
the announcement having been more or less made by the London County Council
that they would draft a scheme applicable to the whole of London and would
make arrangements for each of the Boroughs. After these arrangements were
made, the administration was to be handed over to the Borough Council.