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73
That there was need for some strong action in 1907 was indicated by the 996
infant deaths, giving an infantile mortality rate of 117, and of these infants 131 died
of the associated causes of diarrhoea, enteritis and gastritis ; 236 from bronchitis and
pneumonia ; another 10 deaths were somehow ascribed to dentition ; 35 to debility
and 28 to suffocation.
The population of the Borough continued to increase, but more slowly, and it
was estimated in 1908 to be over 349 thousand. This gave an overall density of 113
persons per acre. The highest Ward density was in St. Peter's, with the astonishing
figure of 213 per acre, followed closely by Thornhill, with 195 ; and the lowest
densities were Tufnell with 83 and Mildmay with 85 per acre respectively.
Dr. Harris noted differences in infantile mortality in the different districts of
the Borough and in general terms expressed what was statistically verified many years
later. He said :—
" It is noticeable that in those districts where the people are well-to-do and
prosperous, and therefore presumably educated, the mortality is lowest, while
in the low class districts where also, presumably, the people are badly educated
and more or less ignorant, the mortality is highest."
However, Dr. Harris did believe that conditions were improving slowly among
the poorer classes. The death rates were steadily, if slowly decreasing, and Dr.
Harris' impression of the population is expressed as follows
" There is no question that the better conditions which prevail among the
working classes have worked good with them, for higher wages have enabled
them to procure better clothes, better food, and better housing than in the olden
days, when shoe-less boys and girls were the rule, just as now they are the
exception. Even during the winter which has passed, one could not but notice
that the crowds of men who were out of work and demonstrated in processions
in Islington and elsewhere in London were well clothed."
" In nearly every way the conditions under which they live have
improved, because their welfare has become the concern of the State ; and it is
well that it should be so because, after all, they are the State's first asset, and
this being so, it is right that the State should see that the houses that they
occupy are habitable to health, that the food that they eat is wholesome,
nutritious and pure, and the conditions under which they work are as favourable
as can be reasonably desired."
Evidently there is nothing very new about the conception of a Welfare State !
Milk depots where mothers could obtain cheap milk for their infants were also
being discussed about this time, but Dr. Harris recognised that milk should also be
safe. He quoted with approval the following safeguards which had been adopted
in some places on the Continent with regard to milk supply :—
1. It must be from cows that have been tested for tuberculin ;
2. It must not contain more than 30,000 bacteria per cubic centimetre ;
3. It must be sent out in sealed bottles kept in ice ;
4. It must be sold at the latest 36 hours after milking ;
5. The bottles must be filled and sealed at the farm.
50 years after these recommendations, the greater part of the milk supply of
this Country still does not come up to the standard just mentioned.
Notification of Tuberculosis of the Lungs was made compulsory in 1908, and
Dr. Harris recommended the establishment of Tuberculosis Dispensaries for the
Borough at which persons in the very early stages of the disease were encouraged
to seek advice and where they could receive instruction of great educational value