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69
" the Medical Officer of Health, and outfits and suitable boxes
" for same may be obtained on application.
" Yours faithfully,
" A. Wellesley Harris,
11 Medical Officer of Health."
This system has been in force for seven months and the
total number of cases notified during this period amounted to
76. In a few instances only were the certificates endorsed
" not to be visited."
The number of deaths from phthisis during the year was
119. The total number of persons living afflicted with the disease
would bs considerably greater, probably between 1,000 and
'2,000, so that the 76 notifications is exceedingly small and
cannot be considered to be of very great utility in our endeavours
to check the disease. I think, therefore, the advisability of
compulsory notification should be considered, provided special
powers can be obtained which would take into account the
totally distinct and different character of this disease compared
with other notifiable diseases.