COMBATING TUBERCULOSIS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 72, 18 December 1920, Page 11

COMBATING TUBERCULOSIS

' ' —♦ ' — VICTORIAN HEALTH. COMMISSION PROPOSALS. For somo time past the medical committe» of the Victorian Health "Commission has ■ been considering proposals for the prevention of the spread of tuberculosis. The committee's draft proposals are as follow":— . . *' •

(lj Notification of all cases of tnberbulosis:—(a) Removal of patient to sanatorium or hospital, if sanitary environment at home is not satisfactory; (b) examination of contacts followed by such action as is necessary; (c) disinfection and subsequent' surveillance of family and house. -.

(2) Provision of sanatoria :—(a) Educational sanatoria (one of each sex) near metropolis, stay .to-■'be limited to threo months, then sent (b) to industrial sanatorium, of (c) sanatorium for advanced and advancing ea.ses, or (d) home if same is suittfble. There should be a male and a female industrial sanatorium, preferably iioi+b of the Divide. It was very desirable that there should l>e k separate institution for children.

(3) Early diagnosis—As early diagnosis is essential for-success in treatment,- every facility should be provided . • , (4) r Clearing Depot—lLis • necessary- to pi'ovido' a clearing' depotpwhere all eases would 'bo/registered alid kept-under surveillance. There should be control of admissions and transfers.

(5) Accommodation.—lt was desirable that accommodation should ba provided in the city • for-.cases from the country cooiing to the city for examination, or when transferring from one sanatorium .to another,, i ■(G) Control of Campaign—(a) Commission to-havo.con.tr'ol of preventive pleasures (b) control of sanatoria' to, be in th? hands., of-.the commission. .

(") Educational- Propaganda.—This is neccssary, but discretion is essential. Unwise and-too zealous-efforts undoubtedly frighten suspects.! • They lan'acipate loss of work !,nn.d social lostracisui j hence they refuse to be examined.

(8) Sanitation and Pood.—Sanitary homes and sanitary working places and a sufficiency''of nutritious food are essential if success is to br sccurcd in antituberculosis measures.