Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the Colony on the public health ... / Cape of Good Hope.

  • Cape of Good Hope (South Africa). Department of Public Health.
Date:
[1906]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the Colony on the public health ... / Cape of Good Hope. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    regulations must be enacted and efficiently enforced, compelling Natives and Coloured persons in such places to live in dwellings con¬ structed of suitable materials and so as to admit of adequate cleanliness, lighting and ventilation, and especially that a minimum cubic air¬ space of 300 cubic feet per inmate should be fixed and enforced.” IV. “That it is desirable to disseminate among the population information as to the cause and means of spread of Tuberculosis, with simple rules for preventing the spread of the disease : that this be printed in English, Dutch, and the chief Native and other languages.” V. “ That the Education Authorities of the different Colonies be directed to make such information a compulsory reading subject for children in all elementary schools.” VI. “ While the Conference is of opinion that the establishment of special Sanatoria for the treatment of Tuberculosis is not an urgent matter nor one that should be carried out by the Central or Local Authority, it considers that the provision of suitable asylum accommodation by the Government is necessary for indigent persons suffering from advanced Phthisis, chiefly in order to prevent such persons being a source of infection to the community.” VII. “ That prisoners in Gaols and Convict Stations suffering from Tuber¬ culosis should be maintained so as not to be a source of infection to others.” “In the consideration of this question, the Conference has given special attention to the subject of the immigration cf persons suffering from Phthisis, and it has had reluctantly to come to the conclusion that no special measures, other than those which it considers should ordinarily apply to the immigration of all indigent sick persons, can with justice or efficacy be employed in the case of Phthisical patients, and that, therefore, reliance must be placed upon measures applicable internally in the Colonies to all cases of Phthisis, irres¬ pective of whether they have been imported or have originated locally. The Conference is. nevertheless, of opinion that all legitimate means should be taken for deterring the immigration of Consumptives into South Africa from places beyond the seas.” “ In accordance with these views, the Conference passed the following Resolutions :— VIII. “ That, while it seems impossible to altogether prevent the introduction of Phthisical patients, and while at the same time it is very pro¬ blematical whether such a restriction, if it were workable, would pro¬ duce any adequate result, in view of the fact that the disease is already established in the country, it is a matter of importance to all the Colonies that all persons suffering from disabling or chronic tubercular disease, and who are without sufficient means to support themselves during a reasonable time to the satisfaction of the Authority, should be refused entry at the Ports.” IX. “ That each Colony should frame and enforce regulations applying to all cases of Tuberculosis in order to protect the general population.” X. “ That all practicable means should be adopted to discourage the immi¬ gration into South Africa of persons suffering from Tuberculosis.” “ The Conference also feels very strongly that measures should be taken in order to protect travellers by sea from the risk which in many cases they at present run by infection due to the occupation of cabins which, are being, or have been used by persons suffering from Phthisis, and accordingly the Conference adopted the following Resolution : XI. “ That it is desirable that strong representations be made by the several Colonial Governments to the Government of the United Kingdom and to all Shipping Companies and Owners trading with South Africa, to take effective steps to prevent the placing of persons known or sus¬ pected to be suffering from Tuberculosis of the Lungs in the same cabin with any other person not so suffering, and for disinfecting any cabins after use by such persons.” “ In connection with the spread of Tuberculosis among the population, the Con¬ ference cannot ignore the possible influence of the spread of the disease among cattle, and especially dairy herds, which is shown to be taking place in parts of South Africa, notably in the Cape Peninsula, and the Conference therefore desires to submit to the favourable consideration of the several Governments the recommendations contained in the following Resolution : XII. “ Whereas Tuberculosis amongst cattle, until quite recently, was un¬ known in South Africa, this disease has been introduced and in some places, notably in urban districts, is increasing considerably : this Conference is of opinion that all cattle imported into South Africa should be tested by means of Tuberculin and that animals found to be infected should be destroyed. ‘ 40—1907.] P
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