View report page

12
SICKNESS AMONGST THE POOR.
The cases coming under the treatment of the district medical officers in connection
with the Poor Law Dispensary in Hoxton Street during 1912 numbered
5,201 as compared with 5,209 in 1911, 5,445 in 1910, 5,261 in 1909, 4,453 in 1908,
4,380 in 1907, 4,107 in 1906 and 4,014 in 1905. An analysis of the cases treated
is recorded in Table VII. (Appendix).
The diseases classed as infectious accounted for 991 as compared with 924 in
1911, 923 in 1910, 945 in 1909, 707 in 1908, and 763 in 1907. Consumption, measles,
influenza, and whooping cough were responsible for more than two-thirds of the
infectious cases. As compared with the figures for 1911 there was a marked increase
in the number of cases of influenza, and there were also increases in the
numbers of cases of consumption, measles and whooping cough. The cases of
diarrhoea were greatly decreased, doubtless to be accounted for by the cool summer.
Diseases of the respiratory organs, which are also in the main to be regarded as
infectious, numbered 1,461 cases as compared with 1,458 in 1911, 1,344 in 1910,
1,444 in 1909 and 1,268 in 1908. Of the cases during 1912, bronchitis caused 1,292
and 110 were due to pneumonia. Rheumatism was given as the diagnosis in 458
cases as compared with 408 in 1911 and 398 in 1910. Cases of rheumatic fever were
below the average in point of number, there being only 28 as compared with 53 in
1911, 53 in 1910, 47 in 1909 and 32 in 1908. Cases diagnosed as gout numbered
57 as compared with 95 in 1911, 100 in 1910 and 104 in 1909. Dyspepsia and other
disorders of the digestive system accounted for 463 of the cases as compared with
546 in 1911 and 688 in 1910. The cases diagnosed as cancer numbered 25 as compared
with 31 in 1911, 37 in 1910, 36 in 1909, 14 in 1908, 20 in 1907, 43 in 1906,
37 in 1905, 27 in 1904, 30 in 1903, 12 in 1902, 31 in 1901, 33 in 1900, 18 in 1899,
9 in 1898, 15 in 1897, 21 in 1896, 15 in 1895, 27 in 1894 and 23 in 1893.
Diseases of the locomotive system accounted for 247 cases, chiefly of ulcerated
legs, as compared with 240 in 1911 and 263 in 1910, and diseases of the skin for
148 as compared with 163 in 1911 and 236 in 1910.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
The infectious diseases included under the headings numbered 1 to 35 and 170
in Table V. (Appendix), resulted in 589 deaths as compared with 673 in 1911, 511
in 1910, 676 in 1909, 622 in 1908, 747 in 1907, 776 in 1906, 717 in 1905, 791 in 1904,
762 in 1903, 767 in 1902 and 762 in 1901. The number was therefore markedly
below the average for the previous 10 years. They amounted to 29.0 per cent. of
the total number of deaths from all causes as compared with 30.2 per cent. in 1911.