THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Northern Ireland ‘well ahead of the rest of Great Britain’ in fight against TB

From the Belfast News Letter, June 28, 1946
Old Belfast, circa 1906. Picture: National Library of Ireland on The CommonsOld Belfast, circa 1906. Picture: National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Old Belfast, circa 1906. Picture: National Library of Ireland on The Commons

“I have heard the phrase ‘step by step’ used a great deal and I have been struck by the thought that in dealing with tuberculosis, the steps are like those of the tortoise and the hare – and you are the hare,” said Dr J H H Williams, secretary-general of the National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis, when he spoke at the inaugural public meeting of the Northern Ireland branch of the association which had been held in the Wellington Hall, Belfast the previous night, reported the News Letter on this day in 1946.

Dr Williams described the Northern Ireland Tuberculosis Authority as “the first attempt by any government to deal with the tuberculosis problem comprehensively”.

Lord Justice Porter, who presided, said that in the early years of the 20th century, Belfast had an unfortunate record in public health, “particularly so far as tuberculosis was concerned”.

He detailed how the number of deaths from tuberculosis in 1917 was 1,201, and in the following year the figure had been 1,128 but that by 1944 the number of deaths from tuberculosis had fallen to 443 while in 1946 the figure had been 406.

He remarked: “This reduction has been due, to a great extent, to the work of the public health authorities, and higher standards of living and of housing. We have all recognise that an immense amount of work remains to be done and the Northern Ireland branch of the association has been formed to assist in this work, its functions being mainly educational.”

Lord Justice Porter added that new public health measures were being introduced in Britain and that if the Northern Ireland Minister of Health moved step-by-step in this matter he would be entitled to be called “that mighty pedestrian”.

Mr William Grant, Minister of Health, said that, regarding future health services in Ulster, they would probably “go quicker and better” than in Britain.

He said: “Housing is the first priority, but tuberculosis comes next. The Northern Ireland Tuberculosis Authority is the responsible body for waging war against tuberculosis.”