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44
The deaths from tuberculosis were 11.8 per cent. of the total
deaths. It will be noted, however, that the death-rate from
phthisis (the most common form of tubercular disease) was in
1910, 1 .03 or .13 lower than in 1909, and .16 lower than in 1908.
There is thus apparent a slow but continuous decline in the
death-rate from the pulmonary form of the disease in Battersea.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations.
At the beginning of 1909 a partial system of compulsory
notification of pulmonary tuberculosis came into force by an Order
of the Local Government Board. Later, in May 1909, the Council
decided to adopt a system of Voluntary Notification of the disease
in Battersea. Prior to these, there was practically no means of
ascertaining the incidence of the disease in the Borough other than
by an estimate based upon the mortality returns.
The Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations provide for the
compulsory notification (within 48 hours) to the Medical Officer of
Health of cases of phthisis occurring amongst Poor Law patients.
In this way a valuable source of information, which cannot fail to
prove of real assistance in fighting the disease, has been placed at
the disposal of Sanitary Authorities. During 1910, 434 notifications
have been received relating to 166 cases.

In addition to the notifications received under the Regulations
under the system of Voluntary notification of Consumption adopted
by the Council in 1909, 127 notifications referring to 103 cases of
phthisis were received during 1910.