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163
[1913
uncleanliness of the rooms and the impurity of the air. And when to this
uncleanliness and impurity of the air are added the insufficiency of food, it is
at once apparent that there must be a lack of that vitality among the people, who
live under these conditions, which is so necessary to ward off disease. Hence
it is no wonder that tuberculosis, which flourishes in uncleanliness, impure air,
and darkness, attacks those who lack vitality to resist its invading germs.
The very poor are ever the worst sufferers, and, apart from all feelings of
humanity and sympathy, which everyone should have for them, they should
be medically looked after as well as instructed how to avoid passing the disease
on to others; for it must not be forgotten that the great mass of consumptives
in this country have contracted the disease from the sputum of consumptives.
Hence the universal warfare waged to-day throughout the world against this
disease, which has so long been a scourge to Great Britain and Ireland.
Islington is beginning to do its part in this fight, and it is pleasing to
know that before long two Tuberculosis Dispensaries will be at the service
of the people who most require them. One of these dispensaries will find its
home within the Borough at the Great Northern Central Hospital, and the other
without the Borough at the City Road Chest Hospital. It is common
knowledge that the Medical Officer of Health would have preferred dispensaries
under the complete control and management of the Council, but
the Council have thought otherwise. It is not for him to gainsay their will, but
on the contrary, it shall be be his duty as well as his pleasure to utilize the
dispensaries to their fullest extent for the cure and prevention of this terrible
malady, which year by year disables, cripples, pauperizes, or kills some
thousands of our population, and generally at the most important period of
their life—at full manhood. This is well seen in a Table which has been
prepared to show the ages of persons who were notified during the year,
and wherein it is found that
In every hundred 0.8
” ” ” 5.7
” ” ” 18
” ” ” 15.8
„ „ „ 40.3
” ” ” 1.4
were under 1 year of age.
„ aged 1 to 5
„ „ 5 to 15
56.1 ” ” 15 to 25
” ” 25 to 45
„ „ 45 to 65
„ „ 65 and upwards
M 2