View report page

174
Southwark has the unenviable distinction of having the highest
death rate of any London borough for 1916. This is largely due to its
topography, being built on low-lying land with a clay subsoil, to a great
extent originally marshy. This tends in cold wet weather such as prevailed
in the winter to produce catarrh and bronchial troubles which are
most serious complications of Pulmonary Tuberculosis. In addition there
has been the strain of high food prices and the existence in the Borough
of a number of persons who cannot afford adequate nourishment.

Notification of Tuberculosis came in force in 1912, and during that
year and 1913 many old standing cases were notified. In the years 1914
and 1915, notifications of new cases have remained at about the same
level, whereas the death rate from Pulmonary Tuberculosis has increased.
These facts should tend to prove a diminution of Phthisis in the Borough,
but it is counteracted by the fact that in past years many who would
have removed to the country are unable to do so under existing conditions.
This leaves actually more cases in the district.
Could the advanced infective cases be compulsorily removed where
they are a danger to others, a most fruitful source of the spread of the
disease would be avoided.
During the years 1912 to 1915 there were 1,417 deaths, of whom
only 182 died in Institutions, the balance of 1,235 dying in their own
homes—a proportion of 6.7—these cases having been for some months in
the most infectious stage of the disease.
The local statistics show that the death rate from Phthisis for Children
under 5 years is very small, being only one in 27.1 cases, the greater
number of deaths occurring between 25 and 45. It follows that the
usefulness of any treatment in early childhood is not so much of a curative
as a preventive nature, and the object is to increase by every
available means the resistance to the disease in later life.