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15
and for persons chargeable to the rates the Poor-Law Authority are
making provision. About 20 per cent, of the deaths from Tuberculous
Diseases are Poor-Law cases.
At Kingston the Guardians have provided a special separate
ward for Phthisical patients where the open-air treatment is carried
out, and if a stay in a Sanatorium is likely to be of lasting benefil and
thereby enable the patient, either man or woman, to again earn their
livelihood they are sent to a Sanatorium at Peppards Common, but
for the large class of people between the well-to-do and poorest there
is a great want. How is this to be provided for? Possibly combination
between Local Authorities will be found possible on somewhat
the same lines as Joint Hospital Boards or possibly the County
Council may deal with a scheme for the whole County.
I do not think hasty action advisable, possibly to watch the
experiments by other Local Authorities will be best and when a
workable scheme is found to adopt its principles.
Briefly my recommendations are :—
(1) To adopt a voluntary system of notification and to confer
with the Wimbledon Medical Association with a view to
obtaining the co-operation of the medical profession, so
that as much good as possible may be derived from
notification.
(2) To have bacteriological examination of sputum made in
suspected cases at the cost of the Local Authority, as
is now done for Enteric Fever and Diphtheria.
(3) To disinfect at intervals as circumstances require bedding
used and rooms occupied by Phthisical patients, and also
after death or removal.
(4) To ask the Guardians of the Poor to request or permit their
Medical and other officers in Wimbledon to co-operate with
the officers of the Sanitary Authority, so that special efforts
may be made to assist the poorer who are least able to do
anything for themselves.
(5) To make Bye-Laws prohibiting soitting in public places.
(6) To print for distribution, pamphlets on the prevention of
Consumption and suggestions for the guidance of consumptive
patients.
QUERIES re CONSUMPTION.
Summary.
Metropolitan Boroughs—
Number of queries sent out 29
Number where system of voluntary notification in force 20