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64
The cases which were "not Finsbury " were those which had
the disease when they first came into the Borough, and who
had also lived here for less than 5 years.. Some cases live in
common lodging Houses, Rowton Houses, or in other philanthropic
institutions, and wilfully give a fictitious address in order to
escape the supervision which naturally follows notification. Very
many of the poor law cases do this, and it is only after repeated
enquiry and much difficulty that the permanent address is
obtained, or, if this is not available, where the patient has
recently been sleeping.
Sometimes when the correct address is given, the present
occupant of the house denies that the patient ever stayed there.
In one such case, a woman was a domestic servant and had
clandestinely harboured her husband who suffered from phthisis
on the premises unknown to her master. From time to time
the man left his wife and stayed at Rowton House, and with
his sister at a Finsbury address. His sister at first denied that
the patient had ever stayed there and concealed her relationship.
One hundred and fifty-six beds are set apart in the Holborn
Poor Law Infirmary for the treatment of males with phthisis, and
56 beds for the treatment of females so suffering.
Sex and Age.—The notified cases, classified according to sex
and age are given below : —
Years
1-2
2-5
5-15
15-25
25-45
45-65
65 and
over
Males
2
2
43
24
113
66
6
Females ...
o
4
38
20
64
29
8
Totals
2
6
81
44
177
95
14
It will be seen that the males exceed the females, and that
65 per cent., or nearly two-thirds of the cases are between 25
and 65 years, that is, in adults during the period of maximum
working efficiency.