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phthisical patients are directed and instructed how to get
admission to the Infirmary by lodging-house touts.
Finsbury therefore, in some measure, tends to become a dumping
ground for consumptives who have no claim upon the Borough save
that of a common humanity, and for this there are the following
additional possible reasons :—
1. Some have come into Finsbury because their health is
already failing and they desire to be near the hospitals
where they get gratuitous treatment. When they
eventually become unfit for work, their residence in
Finsbury will ensure them admittance into the
Infirmary.
2. There is a considerable market for unskilled labour in the
Borough—for carmen and general labourers.
3. There are many charitable and philanthropic associations
and institutions in Finsbury—these not only relieve but
also attract the poor and needy.
Early Signs.—A little more than half of the whole number of
cases sought medical advice in the first instance for their chests.
The urgent signs and symptoms for which these phthisical patients
sought relief were as follows :—
Cough, 85; Pain in the Chest, 45; Blood spitting, 23; Bronchitis
and Pneumonia, 21; General Weakness, 16; Wasting, 15; "Bad
Chest," 9; Swollen neck glands, 9; Pleurisy, 5; Difficulty in
Breathing, 3; Cold, 3; Asthma, 3; Influenza, 2; and other
causes, one each.
In 8 cases the disease was first discovered by the School Medical
Officers at the official inspection of school children in school.
Very few of the patients were aware that they had the disease
even when it was of longstanding duration.
The significance of this is obvious. It is occasionally difficult to
get a confirmed consumptive to take the proper measures to prevent
infecting others—but if the patient is ignorant of his affliction,
naturally no precautions whatever are taken.