View report page

143
It will be seen from this table that in 1938 5.2 per cent, of all
the deaths were directly due to tuberculosis. This is a very heavy
toll taken on the community. Nor is this the complete count.
There are many other deaths associated with tuberculosis and deaths
where the existence of the disease has been concealed.
Fifty per cent, of the total deaths due to tuberculosis took place
in persons between 15 and 45 years of age.
In recent years there has been a gradual transference of phthisis
deaths from the older people to young adults between 15 and 30
years. This has been specially notable amongst females.
Other forms of tuberculosis.—The number of new cases notified
was 23. Clerkenwell 14, St. Luke's 9, cases. The parts chiefly
affected were the cervical glands (5) and knee (3).
There were three deaths from tuberculous diseases other than
phthisis.
Tuberculosis Death Rate (All Forms).
The Finsbury death rate from all forms of tuberculosis in
1938 was .667 per 1,000 ; the corresponding rate for 1937 was
1.090 per 1,000.
Public Health (Prevention of Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1925.
No action was found necessary under these Regulations which
relate to tuberculous employees in the milk trade.
Compulsory Removal of Persons.
There is no definite power in London for the compulsory
isolation of infectious cases of tuberculosis.
The provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, give
certain powers to a petty sessional court to order, subject to various
safeguards, the removal to a suitable hospital or infirmary any aged
infirm person or anyone suffering from a grave chronic disorder,
where such person is unable to receive proper care and attention.
No use has been made of the somewhat indefinite powers granted
this section.