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154
of the Medical Officer of Health, and the future decline in the'prevalence
of tuberculosis will largely depend upon the thoroughness of
this investigation.
Disinfection and similar routine matters will be dealt with by
the officers of the Public Health Department.
There is another circumstance, which seems to point to the
desirability of the local Sanitary Authority occupying a predominating
position in any scheme for dealing with the treatment of tuberculosis,
under the Insurance Act, viz.:—
It has been decided by the National Health Insurance Commission
that Insurance Committees cannot themselves undertake
the tieatment of tuberculosis, or provide special articles or forms
of food or other accessories of treatment, but they may arrange
with persons or local authorities undertaking the treatment of such
cases to supply what is needed.
From this it is evident that Local Sanitary Authorities are
referred to above, and they are expected to undertake this treatment
of tuberculosis, by providing a Tuberculosis Dispensary for
their districts, with special articles and forms of food and other
accessories of treatment.
I am therefore of opinion that the Borough Council of Hackney
in according with the intention of both the National Insurance Act,
1911, and the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1911,
should immediately proceed to establish a Tuberculosis Dispensary
in the Borough, for the treatment of cases of tuberculosis, and to
undertake to supply any special articles or food or other accessories
of treatment, required by such persons, on terms to be arranged
with the district Insurance Committee.
I append a diagrammatic representation of the scheme above
recommended.