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96
1908]
Tubercular Diseases.—Tuberculosis of the Lungs or Phthisis, Tuberculosis
of the Brain or Tubercular Meningitis, Tuberculosis of the Larynx, Tuberculosis
of the Abdomen or Tabes Mesenterica, and General Tuberculosis.
These diseases collectively caused 604 deaths, which were equal to a deathrate
of 1G9 per 1,000, as compared with (373 deaths, and a mean rate of 1.93,
in the preceding decennium.
Phthisis or Tuberculosis of the Lungs.—This disease caused43'2 deaths,
which were equivalent to a death rate of 1.21 per thousand of the population.
It is satisfactory to note that they were 101 below the corrected average of the
preceding 14 years, and that the death-rate was 0.32 below the mean death-rate
of the same years. They represented also 9.23 per 1,000 deaths from all causes,
as compared with a mean rate of 9 49 per 1,000 in the years 1894-1907. Thus
we see that the mortality shows a satisfactory decrease.
In the subsequent return it will be seen that during the last 8 years, that is
to say, since 1900, there has been a steady, although irregular, fall in the deaths
registered from phthisis. It is of course impossible to say with accuracy what
the cause of this decline is, but there can be little doubt that the agitation
respecting the prevention of phthisis in recent years and the information that
the puplic generally now possess about it have been considerable factors in
bringing about the present state of affairs.
There is no little hope that this improvement will continue, for
undoubtedly the notification of phthisis by the Poor Law Officials will have a
good effect, which may be slow at first, in still further reducing the mortality,
for if phthisis can be controlled, even in a small degree, among the pauper class,
amidst whom it mainly has its origin and flourishes best, it is more than
probable that fewer cases will be found among those in a better position in life.
The outlook, therefore, for a lessened mortality from this disease is most
hopeful.