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The deaths from Tuberculosis formed 11*5 per cent, of the
total deaths, and the disease caused a greater mortality than
all the zymotic diseases, with the exception of diarrhoea, put
together.
Tuberculosis is a preventable disease, and an organised
attempt is being made in many districts to check its spread.
In Battersea the special measures adopted for the prevention
of 1 überculosis have been limited to the house-to-house
distribution of leaflets containing information as to the
precautions to be adopted against Consumption, and to the
disinfection of premises after fatal cases of the disease.
In 1902 disinfection was carried out in 63 per cent, of the
fatal cases occurring in private houses.
In the year 1899, the Health Committee had under
consideration the question of the compulsory notification of
Consumption, but in their final report, which was adopted by
the late Vestry on November 8th, 1899, the Committee were
unable to recommend that any steps be taken in that direction.
Compulsory notification of Consumption is a drastic
measure for which public opinion at the present time is hardly
sufficiently prepared. Voluntary notification is, however, quite
another matter. This measure has come into operation in
Manchester, Brighton, and many other districts, and the
success which has attended its working has proved that public
opinion is ripe for notification without compulsion.
Alcoholism.
Nine deaths were returned as due to acute and chronic
alcoholism, 4 of the cases being males, and 5 females. 20
deaths (males 11, females 9) were due to cirrhosis of the liver,
a disease which, in practically every case, is caused by alcohol.
This gives a total of 29 cases in which alcohol was the cause
of death; but there is no doubt that this number greatly
understates the real mortality from alcoholism. Deaths really
due to this cause are usually certified under such headings as
Apoplexy, Bright's Disease, Heart Disease, &c.
The mortality from alcohol cannot, therefore, be even
approximately estimated from the death returns.