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from a stand-pipe or other direct supply in each Ward once during the
year making a total of eight examinations yearly. Hitherto the
analyses sent are of a very satisfactory nature. There has been no
need up to the present time to make a bacteriological examination.
Water Supply.—In several parts of the District, a constant
supply of Water has been given by the New River Company, in place
of the intermittent service which hitherto prevailed. The whole of
the Stroud Green District has been treated in this way.
A considerable part of the District is still on the intermittent service;
from a sanitary point of view it is highly desirable that the
contant supply should be extended.
Pulmonary Consumption and Tuberculosis.—The number
of deaths from phthisis during the year has amounted to 43, and a
considerable number of deaths have been due to tuberculosis. These
latter, however, have been included under the head of other causes.
As both these diseases may be considered as infectious in a more or
less degree, and due to bacilli derived from external sources, it will be
well, I think, to record in a brief way the manner in which they
may be spread, in order to endeavour to stamp them out in the
future. First of all as regards pulmonary consumption, it must
be considered that this disease is communicable from the patient to
others, and it has been suggested that it should be included amongst
the diseases required to be certified, but that step is, in my opinion,
too extreme to be carried out. Patients and their nurses should,
however, be warned that there is a liability of the disease being spread
unless proper precautions are taken, and these consist chiefly in the
disposal of the sputa, which should be so dealt with as to be thoroughly
disinfected or destroyed. Care also should be taken that the patient
should not come into too close contact with the healthy, especially at
night, when the air of the room slept in is apt to be less frequently
changed. As regards the general community it will be found that
anything which tends to improve the general healthy condition also
enables persons to resist the attack of this and many other
such diseases, and it is, therefore, desirable that dampness in
houses, deficient air supply, absence of light, bad food, and