Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Report on the public health of 1902
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2. Length of the Disease.—The comparative length of the disease is illustrated in the following table:—
Length of Disease. | Notifications. | Deaths. |
---|---|---|
Under Six Months | ||
Six Months | 21 | |
Twelve Months | 10 | 27 |
Eighteen Months | ||
Two Years | 16 | 27 |
Three Years | ||
Four Years | ||
Five Years | 2 | |
Over Five Years | ||
Total | 168 |
It will be understood that this and the former table are facts
obtained from the patient or his friends, and can only be of
relative value as it is often impossible to say for how long a
period the patient has been suffering from the disease.
3. House Infection.—A large number of cases, as in last
year, have occurred in the same houses. Of the notifications,
17.8 per cent., and of the deaths 35 per cent., occurred in houses
in which there were, during the last seven years, two or more
deaths from Phthisis. A careful sanitary inspection and a special
report has been prepared on each of these houses. Almost
without exception the phthisical patients in these houses
neglected to take any precautionary measures whatever, with
regard to expectoration or disinfection. The houses appeared to
be, as a general rule, in every way fit for habitation, according to
the standard of bye-laws, etc. Only seventeen houses were returned
as "damp," twenty as having poor light, and thirty-five as being
dirty. There were two characteristics commonly occurring,