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53
Report of Medical Officer of Health.]
TUBERCULOSIS.
The total number of deaths from all forms of tuberculosis last year was 216, or 31 less than the
annual average for the decennium 1890-99. The annual average for the 5 years 1890-94 was
270, and that for the 5 years 1895-99, 227. Tuberculosis of the lungs (consumption or phthisis)
caused 142 deaths last year, compared with annual averages of 168 for the decennium and 181 and
156 for the first and second quinquennium respectively. "Other forms of tuberculosis," viz.,
tubercular meningitis, tabes mesenterica (consumption of the bowels), scrofula, &c., caused 74 deaths,
compared with annual averages of 79, 89, and 71 for the decennium and the two quinquennia.

The reduction in the number of deaths recorded from "consumption" may be said to be not
unsatisfactory, but so much cannot be said with regard to the deaths from "other forms." As will
appear later, the incidence of "consumption" as a cause of death is heavier on adults, and that of
"other forms," on young children—a fact of considerable importance in relation to questions of
prevention of the disease.
As regards the two Sub-Districts, the actual numbers will be found in Table 20 (p. 42), and
need not be recapitulated here. The changes in the numbers recorded are indicated in the appended
tabular statement:—
Deaths from Tuberculosis.
Persons at all ages.
St. Mary.
St. John.
Consumption. Other forms. Consumption. Other forms.
Annual averages—
1890-99.
1890-94.
1895-99.
1890-99.
1890-94.
1895-99.
1890-99.
1890-94.
1895-99.
1890-99.
1890-94.
1895-99.
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Deaths recorded, 1900—
84 78 93 95 88 103 85 81 81 81 60 112
In the Metropolis the deaths registered from consumption in 1900 numbered 8,030, compared
with a corrected annual average of 8,532 for the decennium 1890-99,* or a reduction of 6 per cent.,
against one of 16 per cent, in the Parish as a whole. There were 3,099 deaths from "other forms"
of tuberculosis in the Metropolis during the past year, the decennial average being 3,485. The
number of deaths from these "other forms" was therefore 12 per cent, below the average, as
compared with 7 per cent, in the Parish.
The actual numbers for the decennium for the various parishes and districts of the Metropolis
are not available. Those for a single year are of no value for present purposes.
Referring to Table 20a (p. 43), it will be seen that the mortality (per 1,000 persons at
all ages) from phthisis last year was 1.09 in the Parish, 1.23 in St. Mary, and 0'66 in St. John,
the corresponding decennial mean rates being 1.27, 145, and 0.80.
The mortality from "other forms" was 0.56 in the Parish, 0.67 in St. Mary, and 0.27 in St.
John, compared with the respective mean rates of 0.60, 0.70, and 0.35. These figures are, for the
sake of emphasis, set out in the following table:—
* Annual Summary of Births and Deaths and Causes of Death in London and other Large Towns, 1900. Table
15, p. xxxiv.