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Under this head the question of kissing may be considered.
However carefully a person suffering from Pulmonary Tuberculosis
may wipe the mouth after expectoration, the lips remain
infected, and such a person, by kissing a healthy individual on
the lips, may convey infection. The same danger attaches to
an infected person using the same eating and drinking utensils
as healthy persons, or using the same washing towels.
(5) The State of Nutrition of Persons Exposed to Infection.—
There is no doubt that poorly nourished or badly housed-andclothed
persons are, other things being equal, more likely to
take infection than persons who are well fed, clothed and
housed, because such social circumstances undermine the
health and lower the resistance of the body to disease. Unfortunately,
when the bread winner of a family becomes tuberculous,
his ability to provide for his family declines; and whilst
his increasing illness calls for more attention and comforts he
becomes less and less able to afford them. Such a case ultimately
finds its end in the Poor Law Infirmary, leaving behind him
one or more children—and probably his wife—victims of the
same disease.
Special Powers of Councils.
The powers which Local Authorities possess for dealing with
Pulmonary Tuberculosis are set in the following Article IX. of the
Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1911:—
Article IX.—"(1) For the purpose of these Regulations
and of the Poor Law Regulations and of the Hospital Regulations,
a Council, on the advice of their Medical Officer of Health,
may supply all such medical or other assistance and all such
facilities and articles as may reasonably be required for the
detection of Pulmonary Tuberculosis, and for preventing the
spread of infection, and for removing conditions favourable to
infection, and for that purpose may appoint such officers, do
such acts and make such arrangements as may be necessary."