[Report 1919] / Medical Officer of Health, Harrogate Borough.

  • Harrogate (England). Borough Council. nb2014025795.
Date:
1919
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1919] / Medical Officer of Health, Harrogate Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    67/110
    34* • As in former years enquiry was nude into the family history, degree of isolation provided etc, and the following information was obtained Family History. In 4-3 cases fairly reliable information was obtained on this point, and in 17 cases it was found that there was a definite history of tubercle in one or more near relatives of the patients. In the remaining 28 cases no history of tubercle in living or dead relatives could be elicited. Housing Conditions. The houses in which the cases occurred were all through houses arm no serious sanitary defects were found in any. There was no marnod overcrowding but there is no doubt that in many instances the houses were occupied by a larger number of persons than was desirable especially in view of the fact that one of the number was suffering from tuberculosis. Is olation. In 32 instances more or less satisfactory isolation of the patient was obtained. In 31 cases the patient occupied a separate bedroom and in one a separate bed. In I14. instances there was no attempt at isolation and in 5 instances no information was obtainable but as these 5 cases were all of fairly well to do people living in good houses the presumption is that suitable isolation was provided. It will be readily understood that it is very difficult to obtain satisfactory isolation and in an ordinary working class cottage occupied by a family isolation is almost impossible no matter how much the inmates desire to do their best. It is therefore very satisfactory that so large a proportion of the cases was isolated. Control of Tuberculosis.- The measures taken to control tuberculosis have been carried out on the same lines as in previous years. all cases notified are visited by a Health Visitor as soon as possiole after receipt of the notification*• an exception is made in those cases where the notifying practitioner requests that no visit be made but these are always well to do people living in good houses where there seems to be little need for an official visit, Advice is given m to the uest methods of prev nting the spread of the disease, stress being laid upon tne danger of the sputum, on the desirability of securing adequate isolation, and on the advant „ges of fresh air and sunlight. Pi.sinfoctants are provided free of cost and houses are disinfected after death or removal; 32 mouses having been disinfected during the year. * (34),