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26
There are about 60,000 persons who die from this disease
every year in this country.
The principal predisposing causes of Tuberculosis are
insufficient and improper food, insanitary houses, personal
uncleanliness and poverty. As Phthisis causes most deaths
during the wage-earning period of life, i.e., between the ages of
25 and 65 years, it is a serious question for the nation, and
Public Health Authorities should take concerted action, assisted
by the State, to arrest the disease. We have, during the year,
taken in some 14 cases for treatment at the Isolation Hospital,
but the results were not satisfactory, as most of the cases notified
and admitted were in an advanced stage. It is to be hoped that the
time is not far distant when general notification will be brought
about and then more cases might be treated with some measure
of success.
All cases notified are visited, and printed instructions are
left giving information concerning the disease and disposal of
sputum, etc. Pocket sputum bottles are supplied where the
patient is unable to purchase one. Disinfection of the room
occupied by a consumptive is carried out when possible, in fact
the public are being gradually taught how infectious this disease
is, and often write to the Public Health Department for their
room and bedding to be disinfected. The introduction of
Health Visitors by some Sanitary Authorities and Voluntary
Health Societies, together with the "Press," have done good
service in educating the public as to the nature of the disease
and adoption of methods for prevention of the spread of infection.
The advantage of taking these cases into a Hospital for
open-air treatment is that they are taught the necessity of fresh
air and amount of exercise to take, also the best food to combat
the disease.
The distribution of Tuberculosis in the various Wards is
shown in the following Table, which gives the number of deaths
and death-rate per 1,000 of population:—