PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4427, 6 August 1901, Page 3

PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS.

DISEASE IN A GOVERNMENT OFFICE. Dr T. Borthwick, Aledical Officer ot Health, recently forwarded the following report to the Secretary of the Adelaide Local Board of Health:—“Adelaide, July 2.—1 have the honour to report on some cases of pulmonary tuberculosis which have occurred in the office of a public works department. five cases have occurred among the occupants of this office, and under circumstances which give rise to the suspicion that the disease was contracted in that room, at least in some of the cases. As the expectoration of patients suffering from this disease generally swarms with the tuberculi bacilli it is evident that there is the greatest risk of infected dust finding lodgment all over the place, and also of books used by the patient becoming infected. Tie danger of the former lies in the d it when disturbed, being inhaled int 0 tne lungs of healthy persons, and the danger of the latter lies in the books being used by_ healthy persons, and so conveying infection to these. Books arceasily rendered infective by using a finger moistened by saliva to turn over the leaves. Equally readily can infection be derived from these books by healthy persons by a similar process of their using a moisten ed finger, or by their inhaling the dust arising in handling tho books’. In this particular office it is a. necessity that all the books must pass through the bands of all the clerks. Unfortunately, books are the most difficult things to disinfect, and it is evident that disinfection cf these books and the room generally would be of very little use so long as the upatient remains to distribute infected material. Hence the necessity of some action beiqg taken as soon as a case is known to exist. He should he given six months’ leave of absence, so as to obtain the full bene fit of the opentair treatment, and if this treatment could bo carried out at a proper sanatorium or under proper supervision there would be ovary prospect of a cure, and the return of the patient to his duties in a safe state. It is recognised that any interference with the patient’s means of earning a livelu hood must be a last resort. The suggestion just made tends rather in the oppoa site direction, and if the Government cannot see its way clear to grant leave on full or half pay there should be some sort of insurance fund instituted in the civil service to facilitate the taking advantage of such treatment. Failing this course, it is open to remove the patient to some other work, where he will not be so great a source of danger to others, but if it is absolutely necessary to keep such patients in their present position then they should be supplied with printed in structions as to what steps to take to minimise the risk to o.hers. This is an exceedingly important matter, and it affects offices in other departments as well. I recommend that a copy of this report be sent oh to the Engineer-in-Ohiof and to the Premier with the intimation that when a decision has been arrived at in this particular instance this local board of health will to prepared to render every assistance in disinfecting the rooms and books.”