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27
VOLUNTARY NOTIFICATION OE CONSUMPTION.
The voluntary notification of consumption which was in the first instance put into
force for a period of 12 months from the 1st January, 1904, the fees to be paid being
the same as for the notifiable diseases, was extended to the year 1905, and has since
been further extended for the three years 1906-1908 inclusive.
Excluding a few duplicates there were 208 cases notified, 99 belonging to St.
Giles and Bloomsbury and 109 to the Holborn Division. The cost of the notifications
was £13. 2s.
During the year 1904, there were 344 cases notified, 157 belonging to St. Giles
and Bloomsbury, and 187 to the Holborn Division.
About 70 per cent, of the persons notified, viz., 142 had been living in common
lodging houses and these were all at once or soon afterwards removed to infirmaries.
With a few exceptions the remaining 66 lived in tenement houses and 45 of them
were soon removed to infirmaries or hospitals so that only 21 remained at home.
In the majority of cases which were at once removed to infirmaries from common
lodging houses the patients could not be seen to obtain any details respecting their
illness. It was possible, however, to obtain details respecting 94 cases.
36 cases were visited at the St Giles Workhouse, of which 28 came from common
lodging houses and 8 from tenement houses. In a few cases the patients were too ill
to obtain any details.
41 homes were visited after the removal or death of patients, 17 after removal
to infirmary and 24 after death.
23 homes were visited during the life of the patient.
In the 94 cases respecting which details were obtained: —
No relative known to have had phthisis 69
Relative or relatives had had phthisis over five years ago 21
Ditto. less than five years ago 4
Total 94
Length of illness.
Under one year 54
One year and under five 20
Over five years 18
Unascertained 2
Total 94
d 2