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37
1906, 9 cases. 1907, 18 cases. 1908, Nil. 1909, 13 cases.
On 1st January, rgog, the Tuberculosis Regulations of the
Local Government Board came into force, these provide for the
compulsory notification of all cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
coming under the care of the Poor Law Authorities. Since
that date 45 notifications of such cases have been received, and
20 of these cases were admitted to the West Ham Infirmary.
The Regulations provide not only for thff notification of
these cases when they are first discovered, but also require
Relieving Officers to notify any change of residence of these
patients.
All cases notified are at once visited and enquiries are made
as to the source of infection. Printed instructions are left at
each house giving information relating to the disease and stating
the precautions which should be taken in connection with it.
Disinfection of the room, etc., is done after removal to Hospital
or Infirmary and after the death of a case. Occasional disinfection
of the room occupied by a consumptive is also obtained
when possible. Pocket sputum bottles are supplied where
these are considered to be necessary and the patient is unable to
purchase one. Inquiries are also made with a view of discovering
if other cases, especially in an early stage are present in the
house or are suspected to exist, and if so the necessity for
immediate medical advice is urged. Free bacteriological
examination of Sputum is provided in the Borough Laboratory
for all Medical Practitioners to assist in making an early
diagnosis of cases of this disease.
There can be no doubt but that Tuberculosis in the past
has not received from Public Health Authorities the amount of
attention that its importance, as a cause of death, demands. In
the majority of districts, Isolation Hospital accommodation is
provided for cases of Small Pox, Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria,
and Typhoid Fever, yet the number of deaths from these four
diseases combined is far below the number caused by Tuberculosis
In East Ham during the past year the number of