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

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Wandsworth 1909

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

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138 Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
" Again, if we assume that only one year's disablementis
caused by every fatal case, then the loss in wages alone,,
reckoning £1 per week as an average, amounts to over one
million pounds.
"In this Borough 1,300 deaths of males between the
ages 20-65 have occurred in the 10 years 1899-1908, or an
average of 130 per annum, and a consequent loss in wages
alone of £6,500 per annum.
Dr. Newsholme, in dealing with this question, says:
Looking at the subject from the standpoint of natural
economics, it is not open to dispute that the most elaborate
and complete measures of every description against Tuberculosis
would only cost a fraction of the present total loss
inflicted by this disease, and that this expenditure would, as
time goes on, lie paid for many times over in the prevention,
of sickness and increase of efficiency of the community.'
" Notification of Cases since January ist, 1909.
" The total number of cases notified since January ist
was 173, of which 146 were cases notified under the Regulations
for Poor Law cases, which came into force on that date.
" Of these 173, 42 were notified from the Infirmary, 55
from the Tooting Home, 44 by District Medical Officers, and'
five from other Poor Law Institutions.
" Only 16 of these 173 cases are at present being treated
at home, the others being treated in institutions.
"15 cases have been notified from Brompton Hospital,.
14 of which are being treated at home; and 12 by private practitioners,
seven of which are being treated at home.
Since the beginning of the year 17 of the cases notified
by the Poor Law authorities have died, and six of those
notified otherwise—a total of 23 in all.