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116
1911
being a danger to other persons, and to make people generally understand that
tuberculous diseases are eminently preventable. But the public are thoroughly
awakening to the fact, and are now insisting that their sanitary authorities
must move in these matters; that they must in fact adopt all modern
methods for the prevention and cure of the disease, whether they be dispensaries,
sanatoria, health-visitors, or the distribution of literature of an educational
character. Many enlightened corporations, county councils and district
councils are doing all these things now, and laggard authorities, however
unwillingly, as in the case of the notification of infectious disease, must in due
course follow the lead that has been so well set them.
The causes and prevention of tuberculosis have been reported on from
time to time, and at length, by the Medical Officer of Health, so that his
Council is fully cognizant of his views on the subject; and, indeed, in the
beginning of the current year he presented a series of lengthy reports, five in
number, which, practically, dealt with every aspect of the subject. It is hoped
that they will bear good fruit. If, however, this should not be the result, and
he does not for a moment imagine that this will be the case, then he will
still feel that at least he has done his duty towards the people of Islington,
whose adviser he is on all matters appertaining to the prevention of illness
among them.
How important these diseases are in relation to the general health of the
community may be realized from the following facts, as regards Islington.
Tuberculosis causes 5.1 per cent. of all deaths under one year.
„ 13.5 „ „ between 1 and 5 years.
„ 18.5 „ „ „ 5 „ 15 „
„ 37.5 „ „ „ 15 „ 25 „
„ 39.5 „ „ „ 25 „ 35 „
„ 27.8 ,, ,, „ 35 „ 45 ,,
„ 18.1 ,, ,, ,, 45 „ 55 „
„ 7.6 „ „ „ 55 „ 65 „
„ 2.7 „ „ „ 65 „ 75 „
„ 0.7 „ „ „ 75 and upwards.
These figures require little or no comment, they speak for themselves, while
as regards certain periods of life they are staggering. It may, however, be
well to emphasize the fact that between the ages of 15 and 25 they represent
more than one-third of all the deaths occurring at that age ; that between 25