Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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When a notification of a case of pulmonary tuberculosis has been
received by the Medical Officer of Health certain enquiries should
follow. These enquiries should be made by the Medical Officer
of Health or by a trained assistant and the advice given at these
visits should be so given as not to interfere with advice already
given by the doctor in attendance on the patient." "Re-visits
should be made by an Officer from the Medical Officer of Health's
Department, such as an Inspector, Health Visitor, or a nurse set
apart for this work who will encourage the patient in carrying out
the treatment necessary for maintaining his ability to work, and the
precautions needed to prevent infection."
The Medical Officer of Health will further ascertain whether
the patient's housing accommodation and domestic arrangements
are such as to prevent, as far as possible, infection to other members
of the same family. The nurses attached to the dispensary, when
not engaged at that institution in helping the Tuberculosis Officer
in the examination of patients, will make subsequent visits to the
homes, in order to see that the patients are observing the precautions
they were advised to take, by their medical attendant, or the
Tuberculosis Officer, or the Medical Officer of Health. If the
circumstances of the lodging of the patient are adverse to his
improvement or are calculated to encourage the spread of infection,
and they can be dealt with under the Pub'ic Health Acts, the Medical
Officer of Health will take immediate steps to remedy these circumstances.
If the adverse circumstances arise from poverty,
&c., the Medical Officer of Health will report the fact to the Insurance
Committee. If, during the enquiries of the Medical Officer,
suspicion should arise that other members are infected with tuberculosis,
the Medical Officer of Health will arrange for such persons
to be examined by the Tuberculosis Officer, and if found to be
affected, to report the circumstance to the Insurance Committee,
who will on the report of the Tuberculosis Officer give instruction
as to their treatment. This is one of the most important duties
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