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TUBERCULAR DISEASES.
21
It should be noted that the density of population (persons to the acre) is, or was at the
last census, highest in the Borough, but that the percentage of "overcrowding" in Kensington
and Marylebone exceeded that in the Borough. Marylebone with the second highest density
of population (90 persons per acre) and the highest percentages of "overcrowding" (21.1)
and of population in homes of less than five rooms (55.6) had the highest mortality from
"consumption" (1.38 in 1907; mean, 1.56); Westminster and Kensington, with lower
percentages of "overcrowding" and small homes, having higher mean rates (1.56 and 1.40
respectively) than the Borough (1.04). Church Ward had the highest proportion of
"overcrowding," and in former years the highest mortality from "consumption." Last year
the highest mortality was recorded in Queen's Park Ward, where the proportion of
"overcrowding" is, or was in 1901, comparatively low.
Prevention of "Consumption."
Notification.— Believing that notification to be sufficiently complete to be useful must be
compulsory and not voluntary, the adoption of the latter has not been advocated. Persons
are, however, brought to the notice of the Department as "consumptives" partly with a view
to efforts being made to ameliorate the conditions of the sufferers and partly to secure disinfection
of their homes and goods. The first reports of such patients (4 cases) were received in
1903, since which year the annual numbers have grown to 85 last year. Among the 184
patients reported between 1903 and 1907 were 7 who were subsequently declared to be
free from "consumption."
As may be expected in the absence of any system of notification, the majority of the
cases were reported by lay persons—only 15 out of the 184 being reported by the medical
profession. A complete analysis of the sources of information is given below:—
"Consumption."
Cases reported (1903-07) by—
Relieving Officers 90
Private Practitioners 15
Hospital Staffs 2
Sanitary Officers 15
Patients themselves and their relatives 14
Other persons* 48
* Including the Health Society (27 cases in 1907), Charity Organisation Society, District Nurses, &c., &c.
Of the 184 patients, 31 had been lost sight of through removals, 7 (as already stated) were
not "consumptives," and (32 had died before the end of last year. The numbers of patients
reported and dying each year are given below.

At the close of the year there were 84 persons on the "Consumption Register" of the
Department, 47 being males and 37 females. Their occupations are given in the appended
table.