London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Chelsea 1905

Annual report for 1905 of the Medical Officer of Health

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10
excessive number of victims; and the diminution of death-rate in the
later period as compared with the first is only a slight one (4.1 per 1,000
as compared with 4.3 per 1,000).
The following Table separates the death-rates into those from
phthisis—consumption of the lungs, the disease of adults—and those
from other forms of tuberculosis, chiefly affecting children of tender
years (0—5 years).

Table X.—Average Death-rates per 1,000 from, Phthisis and other

Tubercular Diseases.

Phthisis.Other Tubcrcular Diseases.
1893-6.1897-1900.1901-4.1893-6.1897-1900.1901-4.
Chelsea2.01.91.60.60.50.5
Industrial Dwellings2.12.11.91.40.90.9
11 Poor-class Streets3.33.63.31.01.00.8

The Table shows a slight diminution in phthisis in recent years
amongst the industrial dwellings population, but practically none amongst
the poor class street dwellers. Amongst the general community there
is a distinct reduction in phthisis mortality in recent years. For the
tubercular diseases of children there is no marked reduction in mortality
amongst any class of the community, except in the period 1897-1900 in
the industrial dwellings population as compared with the earlier period.
These figures are suggestive of the greater attention that should
be given to tubercular diseases amongst the poor. There appear to be
two directions in particular in which improvement might be effected—
namely—(1). The teaching and training of the future mothers of the
working classes in all that appertains to the healthy rearing of children;
and (2) The adoption of some system by which the children of the poor
who are suffering from tuberculosis in its various forms could be removed
into the country, and so spend the greater portion of their lives out of
doors, until recovery is effected. Country and sea-side convalescent
homes are sadly needed for this purpose; but probably much could also
be accomplished by sending these children into country lodgings for
lengthened periods under the system now so successfully pursued by the
various Children's Country Holiday Funds for the fortnight's summer
outing.
As regards the diminution of phthisis mortality, the provision of
open-air sanatoria for gratuitous treatment of cases would, no doubt, be
to a certain extent effective, not only by reason of the probable arrest of
the disease in many cases taken at a sufficiently early stage, which now
pass almost uninterruptedly to a fatal issue, but also by reason of the
practical training in methods of preventing the spread of the disease,
which sanatoria patients undergo during their period of treatment. The
routine methods of open-air life and cleanliness acquired by the patient
in the sanatorium, are continued when he returns to his home life, and
there is a likelihood of the simple precepts instilled into the sanatorium