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78
case is accredited to Finsbury by infection when the presumed
duration of the disease, as elicited by enquiry, is less than the
length of the patient's residence in the Borough.
Adopting these definitions, the cases may be grouped as
follows:—
1. Finsbury Cases by residence and infection 242
2. Finsbury Cases by infection 40
3. Finsbury Cases by residence 15
4. Cases from Common Lodging Houses 13
5. Cases homeless, or giving false addresses or
about whom no information could be obtained 23
6. Cases probably not phthisis 1
7. Not Finsbury Cases 104
438
The cases which may be definitely associated with the Borough
are the first two groups, and amount to 282, that is, to 64 per
cent, of the whole number.
The Finsbury cases by residence had definite signs of the disease
before living in the Borough.
Very little information could be obtained about the cases from
common lodging houses. These patients are generally restless,
wandering, and homeless.
They move from lodging house to lodging house, infecting all,
a danger to themselves and to the other occupants. They use
common eating utensils, and common towels. They spit broadcast
on the walls and on the floors. They take no preventive
measures.
Twenty-three of the cases were homeless, or gave false Finsbury
addresses, sometimes the address of a brother, sister, daughter,
brother-in-law, friend or casual acquaintance. They sought by
this means to achieve a Finsbury settlement, so as to obtain
admission to the local workhouse infirmary.