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With decline of phthisis mortality, the age incidence of death is altering. If the rates of the
five periods 1861-70, 1871-80, 1881-90, 1891-1900 and 1901-7 be compared with those of 1851-60,
it is found, broadly speaking, that the decline in phthisis mortality among persons over fifteen has been
most marked among females, while among persons under fifteen the decline is more nearly the
same for the two sexes. This behaviour of the figures is consistent with the hypothesis that improvement
in home conditions has been a material factor in the result, inasmuch as such conditions
would be less operative upon males over fifteen than on females of that age, while their operation
would affect more evenly both males and females under fifteen.
The following table shows the mortality from phthisis in groups of London sanitary districts,
arranged in respect to the proportion of their population living more than two in a room in tenements
of less than five rooms.

Tables similar to the above have been published in several previous annual reports, and the
close relationship existing between " social condition " as measured by " overcrowding " and phthisis
mortality is conspicuous. It will be seen that in the group of most overcrowded districts the death
rate from phthisis is approximately twice that in the group least overcrowded.

1 See footnote (1), page 18.