London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Islington 1914

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]

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1914] 76
TUBERCULOSIS.
Pulmonary Phthisis, Tabes Mesenterica, Tubercular Meningitis, Tuberculosis
of the Larynx, General Tuberculosis, and other forms of Tuberculosis,
such as Lupus, Tubercular Caries, and Pott's Disease.
The return is an unsatisfactory one in so far as the 508 deaths which it
caused are in excess of those registered in the preceding 4 years. They are,
however, 49 below the average of the preceding 23 years.
The deaths represent 1.75 per 1,000 of the inhabitants and 11.5 per cent,
of the deaths from all causes during the year, which is practically one per cent,
more than the proportion in 1913. It may be mentioned that although there
was an increase in the number of deaths yet the actual notified cases of the
disease fell to 1,150 from 1,683 in the preceding year.

The actual number of deaths from tuberculosis in each year since 1891 has been as follows: —

Year.Deaths,Death Rates.Year.Deaths.Teaih Rates.
18917172.2419046822.05
18926772.09I9055801.75
18937582.3219065781.74
18946732.0419076081.84
18957632.2819086041.83
18967302.l619095821.77
18976892.0419105391.64
18986862.0419115121.56
18997292.1719125531.69
19007102.1119135351.61
19016772.02Average 6171 .90
19026722.01
19036321.9019145681 75

Pulmonary Phthisis—Phthisis, which is the chief of the Tuberculosis
Group, caused 461 deaths, or 41 more than the return for 1913. It is, however,
22 below the corrected average of the preceding 22 years, and only so far is
it satisfactory. The deaths were equal to a death-rate of 1.42 per 1,000, and
formed 9.33 per cent, of the deaths from ail causes registered during the year.
It will thus be seen that very nearly one-tenth of the total deaths were ascribed
to this one disease, which shows better than any words what an important
matter it is to battle with its germs: it is a slow process, but, happily, one
hopeful of good results. Indeed, the history of Tuberculosis during the last
few years in England shows that there is a general falling off in the number of
deaths from it,