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32
In my annual report of last year, I indicated the methods
which should be adopted to secure the complete control and
eradication of this disease. During the year the Health Committee
have given further consideration to the subject, and especially
have they had under consideration the advisabilitv of establishing
a Tuberculosis Dispensary. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of
the Committee, with Mr. Councillor Gentry and myself, visited
the Tuberculosis Dispensary at Portsmouth, as well as the Smallpox
Hospital there, which is used for the treatment of cases of
consumption. The Chairman and Mr. Councillor Gentry also visited
the Paddington and Kensington Dispensary.
In this district the campaign against Consumption has still to be
organised, and put into operation, and the matter is so important
to the community that I shall here briefly review the whole subject
and at the same time indicate the work which a Tuberculosis
Dispensary would carry out and the important part it must play
in any well organised scheme against Consumption.
Nature of Consumption. Consumption is a disease of the
lungs caused by the Bacillus tuberculosis discovered by Koch in
1882. The bacillus is the causative agent in the production of
the disease, and can be seen by the high power of a microscope in
the sputum of a consumptive. In the act of coughing, spitting
or sneezing, large numbers of these bacilli are discharged by the
consumptive into the air, and may subsequently be inhaled by
some other person. Light, sunshine and fresh air are inimical to
the bacillus, but darkness, bad ventilation, dampness and dirt,
favour its growth and dissemination. As is only to be expected,
therefore, Consumption has a special incidence on those who live
under insanitary conditions in unhealthy dwelling houses.
Deaths from Consumption. During the past eleven years
(1901-11) 407 persons in this district have died of Consumption.
In this, connection it is important to note that Consumption is
not a disease like Cancer, which attacks a person near the end
of the usual span of life, but it attacks and kills man in
his prime, the most fatal period being between 20 and 40 years