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56
WHOOPING COUGH.
The deaths from this disease were 54, as against 80 and 118 in the
in the preceding two years.
The Wards of St. Peter Trinity and St. Michael, in the order
named, were those most affected.
The annual death-rate per 1,000 living was 0.26.

Notification of Phthisis.
Under the voluntary system of notification of phthisis 399 certificates
were received in the year under consideration, as against 323 for
1905, and 207 for 1904. Although the numbers are increasing year by
year, I see no prospect of the disease on account of this notification
materially decreasing, or being under better control, as the cases referred
to us are not of the kind to be much benefited by what we can do for
them. They are chiefly poor law cases, or those in a moribund condition.
The greater part of the medical practitioners of the Borough do not
notify cases of Phthisis. Unless this voluntary system is to lead
ultimately to compulsory notification, I fail to see much good in it. In
the few cases treated at home, our practice is to have the room occupied
by the patient sprayed with formalin once a week, and to have the
bedding disinfected by steam once in three months. When death takes
place, or on a change of residence, the room and contents are thoroughly
disinfected. This matter of the notification of Phthisis was before the
Council in the middle of the year, when it was decided (a) "That this
Council is not in favour of compulsory notification of Phthisis;" (b) "That
in the opinion of the Council the system of voluntary notification of
Phthisis should be adopted throughout London, and that particulars as
to out-patients attending hospitals and dispensaries should be obtained by
the London County Council and forwarded to the Medical Officer of
Health of each Metropolitan Borough.''