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23
Phthisis.—The chief Public Health event of the year 1899
was, undoubtedly, the formation of the National Society for the
Prevention of Consumption—a Society formed with the object of
spreading broadcast a knowledge of the enormous death-rate due to
Tubercular disease, a more exact appreciation of the causes of this
disease, and the means available, through bacteriological science and
modern methods, for securing its prevention or cure.
With this end in view it is intended to hold a Congress in London
in 1901, and a preliminary Meeting has already been held, attended
by representatives from most of the large towns in the country,
Medical Officers of Health, and others interested in the subject.
I have already submitted to the Council a reprint on the salient
features of the general problems connected with the disease, and
therefore need only briefly call attention to the special points of
practical use in West Ham.
Although the Phthisis death-roll has improved considerably
during the last 45 years, it is still responsible for by far the heaviest
disease mortality in the country. It might have been anticipated that
West Ham, a working class town, densely populated, whose inhabitants
are mostly employed in factories and at indoor occupations, would
have a high Phthisis death rate. This is not so, the death-rate being
lower than that of England and Wales; and, in comparison with
London, there are very few, even of the healthiest districts, with a
lower Phthisis death-rate than West Ham. This may be judged by
the table of grouped districts below.
Phthisis death-rate per 1,000 living during 1890.
West Ham 1.21
West London 1.65
North „ 1.64
Central „ 2.75
East „ 2.19
South ,, 1.74