Memorandum by the Medical Officer of the Local Government Board on administrative measures against tuberculosis.

  • Great Britain. Local Government Board.
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Memorandum by the Medical Officer of the Local Government Board on administrative measures against tuberculosis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Memorandum by the Officer of the Local Governmenfc?Bbard olr^’Adminis- trative Measures against Tuberculosis. In this memorandum it is proposed to supplement from a medical standpoint the information contained in the circular letter issued by the Local Government Board, which was sent with the Public Health (Tuberculosis) 1908 Regulations to all Sanitary Authorities and Boards of Guardians. The prevention of tuberculosis and the aid which can be given to patients suffering from it depend in large measure on know- ledge of its pathology, and the earlier part of this memorandum deals briefly with this aspect of the question. Afterwards are set forth the chief administrative measures that can be taken against the disease, and the different forms of aid that can be given to the patient, either through administrative or voluntary agencies. 1. Scope of the Order and of this Memorandum. The Order deals only with those patients who come under the care of poor-law medical officers, either at home or in poor-law institutions. Such patients are often only temporarily within the scope of poor-law administration, though at other times they may still need help and supervision. Furthermore, public health administration, whether dealing with poor persons, as defined in the Board’s Order, or with other patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis, is concerned with similar problems; though these problems are more acute, and help is more urgently needed in cases of poor-relief than in other cases. In all cases alike, however, it will be wise to take measures to avoid the spread of infection, and with this object in view to educate and train the patient in the method of life suitable to his disease, to secure for him separate sleeping accommodation so far as circumstances permit, either at home or in an institution, to disinfect rooms which have become infected, and to remove all conditions which favour infection or re-infection. In a few towns, all cases of pulmonary tuberculosis are com- pulsorily notifiable under local Acts of Parliament. In a considerable number of urban and rural districts, voluntary notification of cases of pulmonary tuberculosis is invited by the sanitary authority and secured in some proportion of the total cases of this disease. The Board have always advised that the 7500 Wt 32083 12/08 D k R 19 31551 A