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53
142 new patients were suffering from tuberculosis
of the respiratory organs and of these 96 had tubercle
bacilli in the sputum. The majority of cases occurred
between the ages of 15 and 35.
46 patients suffered from tuberculosis of the glands
of the neck, and the majority of these occurred between
the ages of 5 and 10.
Housing and Tuberculosis.
A great deal of overcrowding exists in the Borough
and it is to be hoped that definite steps will be taken
in the near future to remedy the present state of affairs.
It is obvious that there is little room in Fulham for
new buildings and this is borne out by the census returns
for 1921 as well as by an inspection of the Borough for
possible sites.
In 1921, according to the Registrar-General's returns,
the number of occupied rooms per person (including
living rooms, bedrooms and kitchen but excluding
scullery and bathroom), was 0.96, which was the same
as for the whole of the administrative County of London
(including the City). In Fulham therefore the available
accommodation was equal to the average in London.
When the density of population was, however,
judged by the number of persons per acre, it was found
that the figure for Fulham was 93 per acre against
60 per acre for the whole of London.
Tables V to VII deal with the housing conditions of
new cases of tuberculosis attending the Dispensary.
In 1914, 215 new cases of tuberculosis were visited by
the nurses and their home conditions investigated; 97
were found to be living in houses of three rooms or less,
equal to 45.1 per cent. of the total. In 1924, 194 new
cases were visited and 110, or 56.6 per cent. of the total
were living in houses of three rooms or less, which
tends to show that the housing conditions are worse.