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36
TUBERCULOSIS.
PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS.
143 cases have been notified, 14 of which belonged to
the Village Homes.
51 deaths from Pulmonary Tuberculosis have been recorded
as belonging to this district, giving a death-rate of
.6 per 1,000.
TUBERCULOSIS (ALL OTHER FORMS).
105 cases of all other forms of Tuberculosis have been
notified, 34 of which belonged to the Village Homes.
22 deaths have been recorded as belonging to this district,
giving a death-rate of .3 per 1,000.
52 houses have been disinfected after Tuberculosis.
On receipt of a notification, a visit is paid as speedily as
possible to the patient by the Medical Officer of Health or
the Sanitary Inspector. Much discretion is needed in visiting
these cases, and care is taken that the patient is not
subjected to any annoyance. For instance the relatives of
the patient may object to information of the nature of his
disease reaching the patient. Again, the patient may wish
the nature of the disease kept strictly private; for instance, a
domestic servant or a lodger in a private house. The object
of notification is to ensure that every person suffering from
Tuberculosis is placed in the best position possible from the
point of view both of curing the disease and of preventing its
spread. It is my experience that a great proportion of the
cases notified are under proper medical care. The recent
appointment of a Tuberculosis Officer by the Essex Insurance
Committee has ensured that no case lacks medical care. The
more effective modes of treatment—in a sanatorium or
hospital—are unfortunately still out of the reach of many;
although in the course of time, no doubt, this deficiency will
be remedied. The second object mentioned is the control of