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75
Local Government Board in making the disease notifiable. It is
not clear so far how the various agencies are to be linked together
to produce the desired result, i.e. the eradication of consumption.
Some difficulty will no doubt be found in arranging the details of a
scheme of such magnitude, but should not prove insurmountable.
The Battersea tuberculosis dispensary has not been sufficiently
long at work to give statistics showing the results of i ts
work as a factor in dealing with the disease in the Borough. There
is no doubt, however, that much good will follow, especially as a
centre for diagnosis of contacts and early suspected cases. Much
assistance is already being rendered to the work of the Council's
Health Department in this respect, and the value of such assistance
as a preventive measure in a district like Battersea cannot be overestimated.
Cancer.
The number of deaths from cancer registered of persons belonging
to Battersea during the year 1911, was 163 (males 75,
females 88, as compared with 141 in 1910 and 180 in 1909.
The average number of deaths from cancer during the ten
years 1900-10 was 154. The death-rate from the disease during
1911 was therefore slightly in excess of the average for the decennium.
Alcoholism.
During 1911 in the Borough of Battersea, 2 deaths were registered
from acute and chronic alcoholism (males —, females 2).
In addition to these 24 deaths were registered from cirrhosis of
the liver (male 11, females 13) a disease mainly due to alcohol.
The total number of deaths therefore to be ascribed to alcohol
was 26 as compared with 22 in 1910 and 25 in 1909.
Deaths really due to this course are frequently certified under
less invidious headings such as apoplexy. Bright's disease, &c.
The number of deaths under this heading is probably greatly understated,
and cannot be even approximately estimated from the
deaths returns. There are, however, indications that the evils
of intemperance are being more generally appreciated, and certainly
the Borough of Battersea compares favourably in this respect with
other large centres of population in England and Wales.