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239
PUERPERAL FEVER.
Under Puerperal Fever are included deaths from Pyaemia
and Septicemia occurring in lying-in women. Two cases were
notified during the year ; and there were 2 deaths from this disease.
PHTHISIS (CONSUMPTION) AND OTHER FORMS OF
TUBERCULOSIS.
One hundred and one cases of consumption were notified under
the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1912.
Sixty-four of the notified cases were insured under the Insurance
Act.
Nurse A. Ager, who is appointed to give part-time services
in connection with the Tuberculosis work within the Borough, has,
acting under the instruction of the Medical Officer of the
Tuberculosis Dispensary, and myself, dealt with 83 different cases,
making in all 366 visits during 1917.
The value of our present measures against Tuberculosis is
seriously discounted by the failure to make the scheme sufficiently
comprehensive.
The persons who disseminate large quantities of the germs of
Consumption during coughing and expectoration, while living
in intimate contact with their families, are the most serious
element of danger in the spread of the disease ; for the close association
of Tuberculosis with bad housing is admitted by all. Therefore,
the preventive measures of first importance are (1) better
housing ; (2) effective measures to render the spread of infection
impossible when once the infective person has been discovered.
For advanced (non-sanatorium) cases, homes should be
provided which are local, inexpensive, and conducted on hospital
tines ; and these should be under the care of the Dispensary
Medical Officer.