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As was mentioned in my Annual Report for 1907, in a great
many cases of Tuberculosis, especially in children, it can be traced
as a result of the introduction into the human body, of the bacillus
bovine tuberculosis, the bacillus being introduced through the cow's
milk. This, as is well-known, can be avoided by boiling the milk.
The Local Government Board has issued an order which will
come into force on January 1st, 1909, rendering the compulsory
notification of cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis by the Medical
Officer of a Poor Law Institution, and by the District Medical
Officer in the case of any poor person he is attending, according to
his agreement with the Board of Guardians. The notifications are to
be made to the Medical Officer of Health within forty-eight hours
after the symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis are first recognised.
The Superintending Officer of a Poor Law Institution is required
to post to the Medical Officer of Health a notification of the actual
or intended place of destination of any person leaving the institution
with respect of whom notification has been made, and the same
obligation is laid upon the Relieving Officer in the case of persons
not in an institution who may change their address. The Order is
not to authorise anyone to put into force any enactment which
renders the person notified or any other person liable to a penalty or
subjects him to any restriction, prohibition or disability affecting
him or his employment, occupation, means of livelihood, or residence,
on the ground of his suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis.
The number of deaths registered during the year was 153, equal
to an annual rate of 1.30 per 1,000 persons living, that for London
as a whole was 1.32. The rate of mortality in the borough for the
three preceding years was 1.56, 1.69 and 1.58 respectively.
There were 58 deaths registered in North Deptford, 30 in South
Deptford, 65 in Central Deptford.
RESPIRATORY DISEASES.
Under this heading are included Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Pleurisy
and other diseases of the respiratory organs. The number of deaths
registered during the year was 336, compared with 373, 329, and 329
for the three previous years. 72 were children under one year of
age, 60 children over one and under five years and 104 were persons
over 65 vears of age.
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