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163
BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK.
Southwark Tuberculosis Dispensary,
82-84, Newington Causeway, S.E.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Borough of Southwark.
Sir and Gentlemen,
In presenting my Annual Report for the year 1920, I have pleasure
in recording, for the third year in succession, a considerable diminution in
Pulmonary Tuberculosis in the Borough, both as regards incidence of
newly notified cases and also in the death-rate from the disease, both of
these figures showing a steady decline, and although this decrease is
general throughout England and Wales it is satisfactory to note that
Southwark has taken part in this diminution.

No doubt various causes have contributed to this diminution, but it
is partly due no doubt to the amount of preventive work carried out in
the patients' homes and the detection of early cases, enabling them to be
dealt with promptly as soon as the disease is detected instead of waiting
until it has obtained firm hold on the patient.
The public prominence given to the disease by the tuberculosis
movement has awakened interest and has also encouraged those with
suspicious symptoms to apply for advice whereas before the dissemination
of general knowledge little attention was paid to early symptoms which
were frequently ascribed to other causes.
The Care Committee has met fortnightly and has done excellent
work, an analysis of which, kindly drawn up by Miss Ashe, is shown in
Table K.
Home conditions are showing considerable improvement in spite of
overcrowding which is still very prevalent, and as knowledge is dis-