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66
The fact is that phthisis is chiefly a disease of poverty, and
these poor people, as their savings get exhausted and their sick
benefit gets less, are for ever moving from one house to another,
infecting them all, in their endeavour to get cheaper accommodation
and to stave off the ultimate request for poor relief.
Place of Birth,—This was ascertained in 846 cases as
follows :—Finsbury, 146; other parts of London, 163; England,
29; Ireland, 3; Scotland, 2; West Indies, 1; Italy, 1; and
Australia one case.
It is interesting to find that 42 per cent, of these cases were
born in Finsbury, and that 89 per cent, were Londoners by birth.
Family History.—Out of 377 cases there was a clear
history in 158 households of other previous cases—that is a
definite family history in 42 per cent, of the cases investigated.
In one family there had already been 14 deaths from phthisis,
in other families, 12 deaths, 7 deaths, 5 deaths (2 families), 4
deaths (6 families), and 3 deaths in 6 families.
In two families there were six cases of phthisis still living and
3 dead from phthisis, in another family 3 cases living and one
death, in another family 2 cases living and 4 deaths, in another
household one case living and 4 deaths from phthisis.
This list does not exhaust the number, and bears witness to
the potential ravages of this fell disease, and to the manner in
which it may infect all or many of the members of the same
household.
Early Signs—The early signs which first induced the
patients to seek medical advice are appended :—Cough, or a
prolonged cold on the chest, 160; cough associated with pain
in back or front of chest, 17; cough associated with difficulty of
breathing, 5; cough and wasting, 5; cough and pain in the back,
1; pain in the chest, 47 ; haemorrhage from the throat, 28;
bronchitis or bronchitis and asthma, 18 ; excessive weakness, 8;
wasting, 3; "influenza cold," 4; lumps in the neck (enlarged
glands, 1; huskiness and pain in the throat (tuberculous
laryngitis), one case,