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37
Friction.
Twenty-three Boroughs say no, but this is in many instances qualified by
the remark " The Medical Officer of Health is not aware of any," " The better
class cases are not notified," or " There is no friction because so little has been
done."
Evidence of friction, however, is forthcoming at Accrington, where the
local practitioners refuse to notify, unless the Sanitary Authority undertook
not to visit the patients, so that the information is only available for spot-maps.
Consent of Patient.
Nearly all Boroughs do not issue a special form, and do not require the
consent of the patient.
Eastbourne and Warrington alone, issue a special form.
In most cases the question of consent is left to the medical man's discretion,
and in one Borough, the doctor is specially asked to get consent before
notifying.
Attitude of Patient.
In most of the Boroughs, the patient is said not to resent notification; in
two he is even said to be " thankful for the attention."
In four of the Boroughs, there has been definite resentment. In Sheffield,
where there is a special Phthisis Inspector, and notification is conpulsory,
there has been resentment only if the medical man had not informed the
patient of the fact of notification.
In one Borough, " if the patient resents, there is no notification." Briefly
it will appear that the resentment to a large extent depends upon the social
status of the patient, and the want of tact and discretion in the medical man
and sanitary authorities.
Disinfection.
The most popular is Formalin in the form of spray or fumigation. The
bedding and other textile material are steamed.
Sulphur fumigation is done in a good many instances. These two methods
and stripping the walls are employed in one or other form by almost all the
Boroughs.