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19
Eighty per cent. occurred among the poorer classes and of
these (numbering 16) 4 occurred in the Workhouse Infirmary.
Although consumption is diminishing year by year
throughout the country, it is not being eradicated fast
enough, and I pointed out in my report for 1903 the need
there was for some form of Sanatorium treatment supported
out of the rates, for the poorer classes.
If the districts around Bromley were to combine, the
scheme would undoubtedly greatly conduce to the public
health and need not necessarily entail a very heavy expense.
In considering the latter point it should be remembered
that in most cases of consumption among the working
classes, a large proportion of the expense has eventually to
be borne either by private individuals in the shape of charity,
or by the ratepayers in the form of poor relief.
The accommodation for poor consumptives is utterly inadequate
to their needs, and it is not fitting that the task of
coping with this difficulty should be left to private benevolence.
OTHER CAUSES OF DEATH.
Among the other causes of death, the following were the
most numerous:—
Heart diseases 36
Cancer 34
Diseases of the respiratory organs 26
Cerebral Haemorrhage (apoplexy) 16
Diseases of the digestive organs 15