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44 Medical Officers of Health Annual Report.
Tubercular
Diseases.
It is satisfactory to note that though the
district is becoming more built over year by
year, and is therefore more densely populated, the deaths
under this head, including Consumption, do not show a
tendency to rise. They were 79, and were three below
the corrected decennial average. Though Tubercular
Diseases are caused by a micro-organism finding entry
into the body by the air, food, or drink (especially milk),
yet it needs certain conditions of the body, some lowered
vital power, to allow it to grow and thrive therein, just as
plants will not grow in a soil not suited to them; so that
the improvement of the condition of fhe individual as regards
general health and resisting power is only second in importance
to attempts to destroy, and limit the distribution of,
the micro-organism. It is in this way that general sanitary
measures prevent the spread of Tubercular Diseases, by
lessening overcrowding and providing well drained and
healthy houses,free from damp and with an abundant supply
of fresh air; and so help to produce a healthy vigorous
population. That efforts in this direction are not without
success in this sub district, is shown by the fact that the
corrected death rate from Phthisis was 1.23 per thousand
living. The rate for the whole ol London was 1.77, and
in some areas as high as 3.34.
Diseases of the
Nervous System.
Though the deaths were more numerous than
in the preceding year, they were five below
the decennial average.
Diseases of the
Circulatory
Organs.
The deaths were 44 only and 19 below
the average.
Diseases of the
Respiratory
Organs.
This does not include Phthisis. There were
100 deaths, and they were 25 below the
corrected average.
Diseases of the
Digestive System.
The deaths numbered 29, and were three
below the average.