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45
Homing Accommodation of Patient
Separate Room 28 cases (57.1%)
Shares Room 21 ,, (42.9%)
Separate Bed 30 ,, (61.2%)
Shares Bed 19 „ (38.8%)
Number of Home Contacts
7 Contacts 2 cases (4.0%)
6 „ 1 case (2.0%)
5 „ 4 cases (8.2%)
4 „ 4 „ (8.2%)
3 „ 17 „ (34.7%)
2 „ 10 „ (20.4%)
1 Contact 11 „ (22.5%)
'total Number of Home Contacts 138
X-rayed 90 (65.2%)
Under 15 years of age 21 (15.2%)
Protected by B.C.G. 8 (38%)
Names on Council's Housing List 11 (22.5%)
Previous cases in Same House 10 (20.4%)
Previous cases in Adjoining House 10 (20.4%)
It may be contended that the number of cases dealt with in the
above survey is too small to be of substantial statistical significance—
a contention which is only too true. But many worth-while
investigations begin in a small way ; and, now that it has taken
shape, it is intended to extend it by following up the cases already
dealt with, and add to it by the inclusion of new sputum-positive
cases as they are ascertained.
Small though the number of surveyed cases may be, even a
casual analysis of the findings is sufficient to indicate the lines on
which action should be taken in the interests of the public health.
The patient who coughs up live tubercle bacilli is a danger to
those around him, and it is deserving of note that of the Leyton
cases surveyed only 57.1 per cent, had a separate room to sleep in,
and only 61.2 per cent, had a separate bed. Unless an infectious
tuberculous patient can be reasonably isolated in his home_ there
appears to be little hope of controlling the disease effectively.
Hospital Authorities cannot provide beds for a large proportion
of tuberculous patients in need of institutional treatment, and it is