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26
With regard to notification it may be said that the advantages
offered by the Council in the matter of examining bacteriologically
cases of sore throat, etc., have been made use of with greater
freedom and with valuable results.
No serious difficulties have been met with during the year
in connection with the notification of cases of infectious disease.
Medical men in practice can facilitate the work of Sanitary
Officials very greatly by a tactful and judicious paving of the way
when speaking to relatives of the patients.
Such courteous smoothing of the rough paths is always
appreciated, and when coupled with early and prompt notification,
and it may be an explanatory note referring to any unusual circumstances,
does much to assist officials who have but to carry out
statutory duties, and are in nowise anxious to exceed their proper
province.
When dealing with cases of uncertain nature the best course
undoubtedly is to notify the case provisionally, explaining to
relatives why this is done. The notification can then be either
confirmed or withdrawn as occasion arises. In such instances the
action of the Sanitary Officers is always in accordance with the
exigences and circumstances of the case.
Hospital Accommodation.
During the year 1905 forty cases of Scarlet Fever and
Diphtheria—or nearly 80 per cent, of the cases notified—were sent
to the Mortlake Isolation Hospital. This is the highest percentage
yet reported, and demonstrates sufficiently the appreciation by the
ratepayers of the provision made by the Council. A table given in
Appendix C. shews the case mortality for the last, and four previous
years.