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52
The subject is a large one and involves much experimental work, and it
was scarcely expected that any conclusion could be issued for some considerable
period. The results of the investigation were, however, so striking that
the Royal Commission felt it obligatory to issue, without further delay, an
Interim Report (dated 16th May, 1904). To quote the Report:—
"For the reason that the result at which we have arrived, namely, that
"tubercle of human origin can give rise, in the bovine animal, to
"tuberculosis identical with ordinary bovine tuberculosis, seems to us to
"show quite clearly that it would be most unwise to frame or modify
"legislative measures in accordance with the view that human and bovine
"tubercle bacilli are specifically different from each other, and that the
"disease caused by the one is a wholly different thing from the disease
"caused by the other."
In other words, the opinion expressed by the Royal Commission confirmed
the course of action taken by the Corporation for many years past.
ARTIZANS' DWELLINGS, STONEY LANE, HOUNDSDITCH.
These buildings, erected by the late Commissioners of Sewers and opened
in January, 1885, stand upon ground formerly the site of several courts and
alleys in the Ward of Portsoken.
There are five "blocks" of Dwellings, severally named King's—Queen's—
Prince's—North—and South, designed for occupation by persons of the
artizan class; some of the ground floors being let as shops. Exclusive of
the shops and cellars, they contain 501 rooms, arranged in 241 tenements,
and are occupied by 995 persons. Sixty-one per cent. are adults and
thirty-nine per cent. children (under 14 years).
The death rate for 1904 was 14.0 per 1,000 per annum [of which 42.9
per cent. was of children under 5 years of age]. Deaths of children under
one year to 1,000 births were 200, as against 90 for the City generally.
The number of births was 30, viz.: 20 males and 10 females. The birth
rate, 30.1 per 1,000, is the lowest recorded since 1894, and is 9.6 per
1,000 below the average for the previous five years.
Only one illegitimate birth has occurred in these Dwellings since 1894, and
in that instance the mother was stated to have been of weak intellect and a
mere child.