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surely, but they will have done much within the fifty years that
have been suggested as the period for the disappearance of phthisis.
At the present rate of progress it will be for a future generation to
pronounce judgment on our efforts, and the advocates of either side
are not unlikely to be beyond the reach of criticism.
The deaths from cancer and the other forms of malignant disease
were 257, compared with 226 in 1907. There is, of course, an extra
week to be reckoned with in 1908, but at the same time there is a
decided increase. As mentioned in my previous report, the decrease
that occurred in 1907 could not be considered as anything more
than any accidental variation.
Bronchitis and pneumonia are both less. The decrease is
shown where the normal incidence is heaviest, namely, in the first
year of life.
Pleurisy, which ought, perhaps, to go under the classification of
a tubercular disease, caused 8 fewer deaths than in 1907.
The deaths from premature birth, injury at birth, and convulsions
remain at pretty nearly the same figures as they were in 1907.
There is a decided increase in the deaths from congenital venereal
disease, and also among those from overlaying, two unpleasant
reminders that perfection of conduct seems to be no nearer. A
decline is shown in the various non-specific wasting diseases of
children, which has come down from 113 to 101.
The deaths from the inflammatory affections of the intestines,
coming under the head of diarrœa,&c.,showed a considerable
increase. As is usual, the incidence was especially seen in
children under five, the infants of twelve months being markedly in
excess. From the infective form of this complaint 119 deaths took
place, as contrasting with 55 in 1907, a rise of over 50 per cent.
The rise cannot be ascribed to causes which existed in Camberwell
especially, for the deaths all over London showed an increase.
Forty deaths were ascribed to the combined group of alcoholism
and cirrhosis of the liver.
Complaints have been received intermittently in 1908, as they
were in 1907, of the effluvium caused by grain drying in the
neighbourhood of the Old Kent Road. The owners were summoned
at the end of 1907, but the case was adjourned for improvements to
be carried out under my direction. As a matter of fact, the yard
was seen to, and although this, no doubt, is a sanitary improvement,
I do not think it would have been sufficient to have destroyed the
nuisance. Many inspections have been made both by myself and
the Sanitary Inspector at all times and on all days, and the
Committee have also paid a surprise visit, when they decided that
they found everything in a satisfactory condition at the time of such
visit. I have myself noticed the smell on one or two occasions, but,
judging from the evidence given at the police court, it was then never
anything like so bad as it occasionally appears to have been. The
owners were summoned in November, 1908, and were fined. In my
opinion the nuisance comes in great measure from the state of the
grain at the time of drying, and if care were taken not to allow any