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38
18 of the deaths from Consumption occurred in the Isleworth
Infirmary, and the vastly increased treatment of advanced cases of
pulmonary tuberculosis in infirmaries and other institutions has been
most valuable in securing segregation of patients from their families,
as well as securing humane treatment for the patients themselves.
Early cases, where any traces of the Bacilli occur in the sputum, are
dangerous, but the danger from them is trifling compared to that from
the advanced and fatal cases. The last 4 or 5 weeks are the most
deadly in the spread of the infection.
It cannot be too strongly emphasised that Tuberculosis is an
infectious disease caused by the tubercle bacillus. It is true that
in 9 instances last year there was a history of Consumption in the
family, but the transmission of the disease in these cases was due
solely to the simplest processes of infection. The immediate
relatives did not regard the process as an infective one, because the
consequences did not appear at once, but after the lapse of years. In
only 2 of the 9 did the family occupy more than three rooms. At
night, the patient had to sleep in the same room as other inmates of
of the family, and it is difficult not to be a source of infection to
some of the other occupants of the house when a case occurs amongst
the poor.
In the memorandum issued by the Local Government Board,
great stress is laid upon the early diagnosis of the disease. One of
the most valuable agencies for securing early diagnosis is the
bacteriological examination of the sputum. The Council arranges
for the gratuitous bacteriological examination of the sputum, and last
year the sputum of 38 patients was examined. In .28 of them the
tubercle bacilli were not found and in 10 the bacilli were found.
In spite of every facility for securing early diagnosis, the Council has
not been successful in obtaining a sufficient number of suitable
applicants to occupy continuously the two beds maintained at the
Northwood Sanatorium. 10 applications were received for admission
during the year ; 3 of these were rejected on account of unsuitability
and 7 patients were treated at the Sanatorium. As far back as
July, 1905, an agreement was entered into whereby the Council
maintained 3 beds at the Northwood Sanatorium. In 1907, the
number of beds was reduced to two.