59 



It seems to be the time is fast approaching when tubercu- 

 losis will have to come under the notice of public health 

 authorities. 



Many argue that it must come under the Compulsory 

 Notification Diseases Act and be treated as any other of the 

 infectious diseases. 



I confess this appeals very strongly to one, but there are 

 many difficulties in the way of notification. For instance, 

 we know that many consumptives are continually changing 

 their residence, and often, in the hope of being cured, 

 their medical attendant. Are we then to have a report 

 from each medical attendant, and will the patients be re- 

 quired to notify any change of residence ? 



In New York the Board of Health has formed certain 

 regulations for its prevention. They sent a circular to all 

 medical men stating that the Board had resolved — 



1. To register all subjects suffering from tuberculosis 

 so far as they could gather from the physicians in 

 attendance. 



2. To send inspectors, unless requested by the doctor 



attending not to do so, to instruct patients and 

 their families how to guard against the spread of 

 the disease. 



3. To disinfect alJ premises either vacated by removal 



or by death of patients without any charge to 

 owner. 



4. To make bacteriological examinations for physicians 



and to report to i^hysicians sending specimens 

 free of charge. 



5. To require authorities of public institutions to re- 

 2)ort all cases within seven days. 



I am not aware that any other country has taken up this 

 matter so strongly as the New York Board of Health, but in 

 Victoria the xlustralian Health Society, at the instigation of 

 Dr. Springthorpe, has issued printed slips, entitled " How to 

 prevent the spread of consumption," to all medical men for 

 distribution amongst their patients. 



The recent Medical Congress at Dunedin passed a resolu- 

 tion recommending for the use of medical men in their 

 routine treatment of phthisical patients the " Table of 

 Advice " originally drawn up by the Australian Health 

 Society. I have in a report to our Government advised that 

 the Central Board of Health might get this Table of Advice 

 printed and distribute it. 



While I believe sanitary authorities could do much in the 

 way of disinfecting houses and rooms where consumptives 



