CHECKING CONSUMPTION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVI, Issue 23, 9 June 1906, Page 15

CHECKING CONSUMPTION.

A practical stop has been taken by the Borough Council of St. Pancras, London, with a view to checking the spread of pulmonary tuberculosis, which is so often unwittingly propagated by sufferers who are ignorant of even the simplest precautions. The Council have inaugurated a system of volunvoluntary notifications, and have provided the doctors of the district with the necessary forms. They have pointed out that the consent of the patients should always be obtained before the forms are filled in, and they undertake that the information so obtained will be treated perfectly confidentially, and will in no wise be used to the detriment of the invalid. That is to say, nothing will be done to prejudice his or her chances of obtaining further employment. On receipt of the notification by the Council, the sufferer will he supplied with instruction as to the best way of preventing the complaint from spreading to others, and those interested will learn from the same source how to disinfect the apartment recently occupied by a consumptive. Those who desire it will be given information regarding the societies and institutions through which segregation may be obtained. but no action will lie taken to secure segregation except on the written request of the patient. The Borough Council intend to render sufferers all the assistance they can,- while, at the same, time, not.in any way-interfering with the., patient’s, prospects of eniploy.ment or acting against his wishes. In other words, they do not contemplate interfering in any way .with the liberty of the subject, whether or not that liberty is prejudicial.to the interests of the rest of the community, but where they can tliey will do good by ensuring that the patient shall not do harm through ignorance. ♦ + ♦