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101
TUBERCULOSIS.
During 1902, 521 deaths were registered in Lambeth Borough
as due to consumption (tuberculosis of the lungs), 101 as due
to tabes mesenterica and tubercular meningitis, and 79 as due
to other forms of tuberculosis, making a total of 701 deaths
from tuberculosis (all forms)—i.e., 13.01 per cent. of the total
deaths registered from all causes. The total deaths within the
Borough during 1901 from all forms of tuberculosis was 695.
Sub-dividing the consumption (or phthisis) deaths during 1902
amongst the different Registration Sub-Districts, it is found that
the consumption death-rate per 1,000 living varies from 3.04
(highest) in Waterloo Road to 0.8 (lowest) in Norwood. The
rate in the Inner Districts, as a whole, is 2.7; in the Outer, 1.3.
In connection with preventive measures, which have been taken
in the Borough (and the old Parish) of Lambeth for several
years past, e.g., disinfection, distribution of leaflets, etc., a
definite advance has been made during 1902 by the Lambeth
Borough Council in having approved of, and adopted, a scheme
of voluntary, or optional, notification of Consumption (with
tuberculous expectorations). A special Report was presented
by the Medical Officer, and adopted by the Council, on February
6th, 1902, by which it was decided that, as tuberculosis is now
a recognised infectious disease due to the entrance of a germ
(the bacillus tuberculosis) from without into the human body,
and as the chief danger lies in the sputum that is expectorated
by those suffering from the disease (affecting the lungs), advantage
might be gained from such a system of voluntary notification.
It was decided that such notification should have reference
merely to cases of consumption, or phthisis, accompanied
with tuberculous expectorations. The subjoined letter was sent
round to all the Medical Practitioners in Lambeth Borough:—
re Notification of Consumption.
Dear Sir,
I have much pleasure in informing you that the Borough
Council of Lambeth has agreed to a Voluntary system of
Notification of Consumption (with tuberculous expectorations)
throughout the Borough of Lambeth. It has been