View report page

12
in 1858, the "Bakehouse Regulation Act in 1863, the Sanitary Act in
1866, the Workshop Regulation Act in 1867, the Artizans' and
Labourers' Dwellings Acts in 1868, and an Act to amend the laws for
the Prevention of Adulteration of Food and Drink and of Drugs in
1872, besides various amendments to former Acts and another
Public Health Act in 1872.
Eventually the Statutes relating to the Public Health became
so numerous that it was deemed desirable to frame a special Act for
consolidating and amending them. This was done in the Public
Health Act, 1875, which with the Amendment Act of 1890 gives the
powers under which the sanitary authority now work.
All this activity in the cause of public health had an effect not
only on the general death rate but a greater one on the Phthisis
rates, although no idea was entertained at that time that this disease
was at least as preventable as some others.
These Acts brought about among other things, better ventilation
about buildings, land drainage, sewerage systems and some amelioration
of social conditions, and their effects are seen on the tuberculosis
rate on the chart. Since 1894 the rate of diminution has somewhat
slackened, pointing to the fact that possibly the measures of general
sanitation which have done much for other diseases have reached a
point where, with Tuberculosis, something more is needed, and
special measures adopting for dealing with the prevalence of
Tuberculosis and especially the pulmonary form of Consumption.
It is well known that under certain conditions Consumption is a
communicable disease, and the cause of it and other Tuberculous
affections is a microbe, the Tubercle Bacillus. These are present in
large numbers in the expectoration of those affected and they obtain
access to the lungs and to food in the form of dust after the sputum
has dried on floors, walls, furniture, carpets and clothing and has been
pulverised and dispersed in the air of the room. They are also
dispersed in the air as spray in the act of coughing and in this a
great danger lies. It is recognised that in the non-expectorating
types of Tuberculosis there is little risk of communicability and if all
expectoration could be destroyed as soon as coughed up the disease
would be stopped at its source and soon become much less prevalent.
We will now consider special measures which may be of service.
Diagnosis.— Early recognition of the disease is highly
desirable. This must depend on the trained skill of the medical
attendant, but if expectoration is present it becomes a matter for the