[Report 1913] / Medical Officer of Health, St Albans Urban Sanitary District.

  • St. Albans (England). Urban Sanitary District.
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1913] / Medical Officer of Health, St Albans Urban Sanitary District. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    lively disinfected, or into some material which can be burnt, and when burnt it is important that it should be burnt in a live fire, and not thrown at the back of the grate where it can become dried. For in this way the germs are not destroyed but only dried and become mixed with the air, and are another source of infection. To spit promiscuously on the floor or in the road is not only a disgusting habit but in the case of consumptives most highly dangerous to the public at large. For in this way the infection may be carried by flies, or, as I have said before, dried and carried in the air either to be directly inhaled or to settle on the food. It is very important that when coughing a Consumptive patient should place his hand or handkerchief in front of his mouth, for by so doing the spread of infection can be consider¬ ably diminished. A patient suffering from Pulmonary Tuberculosis should always occupy a separate bedroom. This is highly important and should always be insisted upon. Under the heading of Preventive Measures I would unhesi¬ tatingly place first and foremost fresh air and sunshine, and next in importance good living. Fresh air and sunshine, partly because in its presence the vitality and general health of the individual is enhanced, and partly because in its presence the bacilli are unable to thrive. Some discussion has lately taken place in this Council as to the desirability of three-quarter ceilings. What to my mind is of far greater importance is that the windows should reach as reasonable close as possible to the top of the ceiling, so that there may be efficient ventilation, and that the window space should be suflicient to allow direct light rays to reach practically every part of the room.