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treatment. The prevention of the disease, however, is as much
in the hands of the individual as it is in the hands of the doctor
and Tuberculosis Officer and Dispensary staff. The great deterrent
to the full functioning of this aspect of the scheme has been
hitherto the apathy of the individual and ignorance of its importance.
This maybe is natural when the onset of the disease is
insidious and its degree of virulence low, but when its onset is
acute and its progress rapid, with a " bad " family T.B. history,
the individual should know that consultation and treatment are
available at the local dispensary. In any case the contacts of
any such person should also avail themselves of the opportunity
of medical examination and survey at the Dispensary. Yet, in
fact, experience shows that owing to financial difficulties, the socalled
lack of opportunity and ignorance of the elementary facts
of the disease, many who should attend the Dispensary as contacts
for examination fail to do so. Such ignorance and apathy
can only be overcome by education. So long as such prejudice
persists, so long will the preventive side of Tuberculosis schemes
be crippled; yet future citizens can be taught by popular education
in the schools the importance of the disease and the ready availability
of preventive measures.
It is worthy of note that there has been a steady decline of
tuberculosis since the middle of last century throughout the
country. Many influences no doubt are accountable for this, but
their separate value is difficult to assess. Yet taken altogether
they have undoubtedly exercised a profound influence on the trend
of the disease. Roughly speaking, these influences emanate from
two sources, viz., the progress of sanitary reform with a corresponding
advance in social well-being and communal health, as
well as the spread of the knowledge of the nature, prevention and
treatment of the disease and the special measures of prevention
against it. These two sources have percolated the community
"in the mass" as it were. What is perhaps insufficiently realised
is that the special knowledge of the disease and its treatment must
be borne in upon the individual. As health is an individual matter,
so should digressions from normal health be regarded as abnormal,
and when such abnormality persists then recourse should be had,
especially if there be any suggestive symptoms such as persistent