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together with the large amount of permanent ill-health
that they represent, are preventible; and, although the
death-rate from this disease in this district will compare
favourably with that of the country in general—which is
over 2 per 1000 of the population—yet there is reason to
hope that it may be considerably lowered.
During the past year a national crusade against
Tuberculosis was inaugurated under most distinguished
auspices, and it behoves you, as Guardians of
the health of this district, to forward this good work by
every means in your power. It is right, therefore, that I
should take this opportunity of dwellingupon this important
matter.
Tuberculosis is now a recognised infectious disease,
due to the entrance into the body from without of a germ
or microbe, either directly from man to man or indirectly
through food, especially milk and meat. The disease being
proved to be infectious, it is of the greatest importance
that disinfection should be thoroughly carried out. I therefore
beg to offer the following suggestions for your consideration
and trust that you will sanction their being carried
out.
(1) That a circular letter be sent round to all the medical
men in the district pointing our that the Council is prepared to
disinfect, free of cost, all rooms recently occupied by persons
suffering from Tuberculosis, and that a similar letter be sent to
the occupiers of those houses in which deaths from Tuberculosis
are reported to me week by week by the Registrar.
(2) The issuing of leaflets, pointing out in simple language
the nature and danger of the disease and the ready means at
hand for its prevention, for distribution where it may be considered
useful. For this purpose the co-operation of Clergymen,
District Visitors, School Teachers and others might be
advantageously sought.
With regard to the spreading of Tuberculosis bv
infected milk and meat—especially, and to an alarming
extent, by milk—preventive measures in respect of these
two sources of infection must be left to Parliament to
legislate for the whole of London and the country generally.
All that can be done at present is to continue looking carefully
after the sanitary condition of cowsheds, dairies and
slaughter-houses in the district. Measures for the more
stringent examination of animals before and after slaughter,
for the systematic carrying out of the tuberculin test, for
the establishment of public in place of private slaughterhouses,
and for the protection of milk by a systematic