706 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION I. 



Dr. Jane Greig, Education Department, Melbourne, said : 

 I would like to refer to an aspect of tuberculosis which we have 

 had to deal with recently in Victoria. Owing to a more general 

 knowledge of the subject on the part of the public, much attention 

 was directed to the question of tuberculosis amongst teachers, and 

 the risk of their presence in the schools. 



A special committee was appointed by the Cabinet, consisting 

 of the Chairman of the Board of Public Health, the Government 

 Medical Officer and the School Medical Officers, who were asked to 

 report on the matter. 



The facts I am about to state, though based on experience 

 with teachers, would apply equally to all branches of the Civil 

 Service, and also to banks and similar institutions. Investigation 

 showed that there was comparatively little tuberculosis amongst 

 teachers in Victoria, only 11 cases existing out of 4,500 teachers ; 

 at least these were all the cases known in the Department, and this 

 shows a much lower percentage than is found in the general com- 

 munity; not only that, but investigation showed that 10 of these 

 cases were in an advanced state. 



Are we then to assume that there is really less tuberculosis 

 amongst teachers than amongst the general public, or is it possible 

 that there may be cases in teachers not known or not notified to the 

 Department ? 



It is a fact that in the cases already mentioned there was 

 often a long period in which each teacher had a considerable amount 

 of sick leave, stated to be on account of other conditions, such as 

 anaemia, bronchitis, influenza, pleurisy, ect., before the tuberculosis 

 was notified. 



Why is it that cases are always so far advanced before the 

 Department knows ? 



One reason probably is that this disease is usually so insidious 

 in onset that individuals are infected for a considerable time before 

 they themselves realise that they are ill. 



Secondly, that when they do suspect the nature of the disease, 

 they refrain from attending a doctor in case the nature of the disease 

 should be disclosed or reported, and that they would be compelled 

 to stop work, which would cut off their only source of income, as 

 the allowance of sick pay is very small and covers a comparatively 

 short period. 



The allowance of sick leave for the Public Service of the State 

 of Victoria in any one year is as follows : — Under 5 years' service : 



2 weeks, full pay, 2 weeks, half-pay ; 5 years and under 15 years : 



3 weeks, full pay, 3 weeks, half-pay ; 1 5 years and upwards : 4 

 weeks, full pay, 4 weeks, half-pay. Any person absent on sick leave 

 for three months or over must be examined by the Government 

 medical officer before resuming duty. 



In dealing with tuberculosis, three facts are to be emphasised : 

 — (1) That it IS preventable ; (2) that it is curable ; (3) that time 



