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51
The Inspectors' report is as follows:—
During the year 1905, we enquired into all cases of pulmonary phthisis (consumption)
voluntarily notified by medical practitioners; 218 in number (compared with 203 in 1904) of which
62 proved fatal. We made enquiries also with regard to 29 deaths of persons whose illness had been
notified in previous years, and of 108 deaths of persons whose illness had not been notified. The
cases investigated during the year were thus 355 (males 223, females 132); the number of visits
paid being 487.

One hundred and ninety-seven of the 218 notifications, and 139 of the 199 deaths, were of
persons belonging to North Kensington; 181 of the notifications were from three wards:—
St. Charles (35), Golborne (57), Norland (89); and 123 of the deaths (32, 37 and 54 respectively)
belonged to the same wards, the population of which is a little under 73,000.
The proportion of deaths from phthisis at the Workhouse Infirmary to deaths from this
cause in the Borough, as a whole, was as usual large; 78 out of 199; males 47 and females 31.
Sixty-four of these deaths were of North Kensington persons and 14 of South Kensington persons.
The notified cases were 126; males 87, females 39; 107 of North Kensington persons and 19 of
South Kensington persons. Eighty-one cases were notified by district medical officers, the majority
of which were subsequently removed to the Infirmary. Eleven cases only (10 of them in North
Kensington), were notified by other than Poor Law Medical Officers.
Notified cases residing at home (averaging 50 in number) were kept under observation, being
visited as frequently as practicable. Disinfection after the death of a sufferer, or after removal of a
patient from one abode to another, was offered and usually accepted, but the refusals were more
than in previous years; objections being made of the resultant "inconvenience," and that
" disinfection is not compulsory."
We noted continued improvement in the ventilation of sick rooms by open windows; an increased
appreciation of the value of fresh air to phthisical persons, and of the danger arising from
indiscriminate spitting.
In a large majority of cases, the disease was in an advanced state when notified, the sufferers
continuing to work for the support of their families, and having refused to see a doctor till absolutely
compelled. The longer we work the more are we impressed with the need of a sanatorium to
which the sufferers could be removed in the early stage of the disease, which, however, cannot be
brought about without provision being made for the support of the families during the period
devoted to isolation.
I am indebted to Dr. Potter for an interesting account of the work at the Infirmary in relation
to the treatment of tuberculosis in 1905. The male patients admitted were 156, of whom 28 were
admitted for the second time, 5 for the third time, and 2 for the fourth time. Sixty female patients
were admitted, 7 of them for the second time. No active phthisical cases among adults are now
treated in the general wards of the Infirmary or in the workhouse. But children are treated in the
general wards. The Guardians have set apart for the treatment of tuberculous cases 90 beds in the
Infirmary ; 63 for males and 27 for females. A very creditable record indeed.
* These 39 persons had resided at 17 common lodging-houses; 17 (7, 5 and 5) in three of them Most if not all of
them were removed to the Borough Infirmary.