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APPENDIX
Showing for each of the London sanitary areas the action taken for dealing
with cases which have been notified or otherwise come to the knowledge of the
Medical Officer of Health.
(N.B.—The figures relating to populations and deaths in the following reports have been taken from the
Registrar-General's Returns.)
City of London.
In a resident population of 19,252 there were recorded, in the year 1908, 35 deaths from phthisis.
Voluntary notification has been in force since the year 1902, and the numbers year by year
compared with the deaths are as follow:—
Year.
Cases notified.
Deaths from phthisis.
1902
10
44
1903
4
39
1904
8
37
1905
28
30
1906
35
37
1907
42
41
1908
49
35
On receipt of the notification of a case, a sanitary inspector visits the patient's name and makes
a sanitary inspection and inquires into the circumstances of the patient. But Dr. Collingridge, the
medical officer of health, pointed out that the number of such patients and visits is extremely small,
owing to the fact that nearly all the cases occur either in a common lodging house or infirmary, and
therefore no special administrative control is called for by the sanitary authority.
Borough of Battersea.
The deaths from phthisis were 223 during the year 1908, the estimated population being 183,873.
No system of notification has been in force prior to the year 1909, and except for a small number of
cases reported by philanthropic bodies or by sanitary staff, it was only from the death returns that
information as to the existence of the disease came to the knowledge of the sanitary authority. During
the year 1908 an inquiry was made by the medical officer of health, Dr. Lennane, into preventive
measures against tuberculosis which were in operation in various parts of the kingdom, and the result
of that inquiry was reported to the health committee of the Borough Council in December, 1908. In
consequence a voluntary system of notification was instituted during the present year.
On receipt of notification of a case, the patient's home is visited by one of the lady sanitary
inspectors, and a sanitary inspection is made, and also an inquiry into the patient's condition and
circumstances. A full report is made to the medical officer of health under both these heads, and a card
of general directions is left with the patient. In certain cases the medical officer of health pays
personal visits, but is not able to do so in every case. As soon as convenient the case is handed over
to the Voluntary Health Society, with which the health department is in close touch, and this Society,
by means of health visitors, keeps the patient under observation and makes suitable arrangements
with charitable Societies, such as the Charity Organisation Society, for the amelioration of the
patient. Sputum bottles are provided free of charge by the Borough Council. Facilities are
provided by the Council for the examination, free of charge, of specimens of sputum. Disinfection of
the premises is carried out in every case notified under the Poor Law Order, either at death or on removal,
and it is offered in every other case which comes to knowlege. No systematic medical inspection of
contacts is in operation.
No sanatorium beds are retained by the Borough Council.
Year.
Cases notified.
Deaths from phthisis.
1902
-
229
1903
-
223
1904
-
248
1905
-
238
1906
-
230
1907
-
227
1908
-
223
Borough of Bermondsey.
There were, during the year 1908, 246 deaths from phthisis, the estimated population being 127,910.
Voluntary notification has been in force since the year 1903, and the cases so notified
compared with the deaths are set out as under.
Year.
Cases notified.
Deaths from phthisis.
1902
—
249
1903
67 (8 months)
225
1904
128
274
1905
54
230
1906
114
258
1907
112
241
1908
134
246
1814
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