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38
Consumption (Phthisis).
A voluntary system of notification of cases of Phthisis has
now been in force within the district for rather more than
three years. During 1906 seven notification certificates were
received from medical practitioners, and eight during each of
the two preceding years.
As cases can only be notified with the consent of the
patient or those in charge of the patient, the certificates received
represent only a small proportion of those affected, and
give 110 indication of the actual prevalence of the disease.
Judging from the recorded mortality, there must be close on
180 persons in the district suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis,
and of this number probably some seventy or more
with the disease in an acute form. These figures will doubtless
appear over-estimated to many, but I have good reason
to believe they do not err in that direction. It must not be
imagined that a person once attacked with consumption will
not recover, in many instances the prognosis is decidedly good,
provided the patient can be placed under suitable conditions.
A hopeful sign is found in the steadily declining deathrate
from Phthisis. Improved sanitation has undoubtedly
contributed largely to bring this about, and with further improvements
in the conditions of housing and work, and the
more general practice of simple precautionary measures by
those affected with the disease, statistics in the future may be
expected to show a progressive fall in mortality.
The various Housing and Public Health Acts have in the
past proved valuable aids in combating this disease, but, in
order to deal effectually with the special conditions associated
with Tuberculosis, Local Authorities require further powers.
Amongst these I would draw attention to the following:–