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131
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
The next Table shows the deaths and death-rates in males
and females from Tubercular disease of the Lungs, and for other
Tubercular diseases, as well as the deaths and death-rates among
children under five years from other Tubercular diseases, for the
10 years 1899-1908, and for the year 1909.
Among males the rate for Tubercular disease of the Lungs
for the year 1909 was 1.03, compared with 1.16 the decennial
average; and among females .59, compared with .76; while from
other Tubercular diseases the rate among males was .26, compared
with .44; and among females .25, compared with .31.
Among children under five years the rate for the year was
14, compared with .24, the decennial average.
Although the reduction in the rate has been considerable
compared with the decennial average, yet it is not at all
certain that this diminution will continue unless other additional
measures are taken to prevent the spread of the disease.
It is to be specially noted that during the last four years the
rates have remained practically the same, and if the population
has been over-estimated, which is quite probable, then these slight
differences would altogether disappear.
The public are not yet sufficiently educated on this question
to realise that Tubercular disease of the Lungs can be prevented,
but this prevention will never be brought about unless compulsory
notification and segregation of the more fully advanced cases are
adopted.