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54
In 1914, 56 of the families in which a new case of
tuberculosis occurred occupied the whole house, equal
to 26 per cent. of the total, whereas in 1924 only 30
out of 194 families or 15.4 per cent. of the total had
the whole house to themselves.
Below a few examples are given of the lack of
proper housing accommodation in the poorer districts.
Mrs. A.—Aged 29, who is an infectious case of pulmonary tuberculosis
has lived on the first floor of a tenement building in a
squalid neighbourhood in the North-East district for nine years.
Five persons live and sleep in one room, including the patient, her
husband, a baby one month old, and two other children.
The patient had three months' sanatorium treatment last year,
but the disease is still active. The husband is in regular work but
is unable to find accommodation elsewhere. Fortunately up to the
present time none of the others have been infected with the disease,
but doubtless under present conditions this is only a matter of time.
Mr. B.—Aged 44, who lives with his wife and four children,
suffers from active tuberculosis of the lungs and discharges tubercle
bacilli in the sputum. He is able to continue at work as a motor
driver and refuses the offer of sanatorium treatment as he fears
that he will be unable to find work on his discharge from an institution.
The six persons live in a basement room and kitchen in the
St. Clements district. Already one of the children has contracted
tuberculosis of the glands of the neck as a result of living under
unhealthy conditions in contact with the patient.
Mr. C.—An ex-soldier of 42, has been unfit for work for some
years on account of pulmonary tuberculosis. He has had several
periods of treatment in sanatorium and is at present in Collindale
Hospital. His wife and six children live in a room and kitchen in
a poor locality. None of the others have contracted the disease,
doubtless because the man's pension allows of sufficient nourishment
for the family, and because the man has been away from home for
long periods and the opportunities for conveying the infection
have thus been reduced.
Mr. D.—Aged 50, with his wife and six children occupied part
of a house consisting of two rooms and a small kitchen. He was
an ex-soldier and had sanatorium treatment and died at home
after a long illness. The eldest son aged 16, has now contracted
active pulmonary tuberculosis and is awaiting admission to a
sanatorium.