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I have worked out a table showing the number of deaths from
tuberculosis which have taken place in the City within the last ten
years, and I have divided this period into two groups of five years each.
In the first five years, deaths from Pulmonary Consumption
numbered 1,509, in the second period 1,088, thus showing a striking
reduction.
When deaths in common lodging houses are deducted, the reduction
is from 1,355 to 932, or 31 per cent.
It will be noted that common lodging-house deaths among men have
increased in the second group. Deducting these deaths, the reduction
in the number of deaths is 26.6 per cent. for males, 39.9 per cent. for
females.
The total number of deaths of males is just double that of females in
the last 5 years; in the previous 5 years the proportion was about 5 to 3.
In deaths from other forms of tuberculosis there is a reduction of
15.2 per cent. among males, and of 20.0 among females.
It is encouraging to note that the number of young children who
have died from pulmonary or other form of tuberculosis has considerably
decreased. There has been some reduction in the deaths from
other tubercular disease in London during the same period, and it will
be interesting to see if the reduction is at the same age periods as in
Westminster, and if so to what extent. It is to be expected that the
greater freedom of milk from the tubercle bacillus during the last few
years (since 1907), would have such a result, but the increased care
which many patients are taking to prevent infection must also play an
important part.