London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Islington 1912

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]

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101
[1912
TUBERCULOSIS.
Pulmonary Phthisis, Tabes Mesenterica, Tuberculous Meningitis, Tuberculosis
of the Larynx, General Tuberculosis and other forms of Tuberculosis, such as
Lupus, Tuberculous Caries, and Pott's Disease.
These diseases, taken together, form the great group known as Tuberculosis,
and during the year caused 553 deaths, which were equal to a deathrate
of 1.69 per 1,000 of the population. They compare with an average of 598
deaths per annum during the 10 years 1902-1911, and a mean death-rate of
1.81 per 1,000.

The deaths and death-rates from the combined tuberculous diseases are shown in the following statement:—

Deaths.Death-rates.Deaths.Death-rales.
19026722.0119076081.84
19036321.9019086041.38
19046822.0519095821.77
19055801.7519105391.64
19065781.7419115121.56
Average5981.81
19125531.69
Decrease450.12

The general tendency of tuberculosis is to decrease, although in 1912
it increased to 553, from 512 in 1911. This in itself is not a very
serious increase, but unfortunately the majority of these deaths (427 in number)
occurred from pulmonary tuberculosis, and at an age when life is very valuable.
During the last few years it has been the duty of the Medical Officer of
Health to dilate at very great length on the subject of this disease, and
therefore, it is not proposed now to discuss it at length, particularly as
within the last three months he presented a long report to the Council respecting
the need of a Tuberculosis Dispensary, while he also presented a series of five
reports, dealing with its various causes and aspects, to the Public Health
Committee in the early months of the year.
Pulmonary Phthisis—427 deaths were registered, as contrasted with
379 in 1911, 390 in 1910, and 424 in 1909. The death-rate for the year was
1.31 per 1,000, as contrasted with a mean rate during 22 years of 1.48 The
deaths represented 9.12 per cent. of those from all causes. The particulars