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Voluntary notification has been in force since 1903, and the figures since that year
show as follows, the deaths being placed by their side for comparison:—
Year.
Cases notified.
Deaths from phthisis.
1902
—
109
1903
—
116
1904
16
135
1905
24
112
1906
20
117
1907
10
112
1908
28
97
On receipt of a notification, a visit is paid to the patient's house by the lady sanitary inspector.
A leaflet is left giving general directions, and a report is made on certain circumstances as to the house
and the patient's surroundings. In certain cases it is found possible to pay repeated visits to the same
patient; such visits are found to cause more attention to be given to rules laid down and are
welcomed by the patient. Pressure of other work, however, such as inspection of workshops,
inquiry into infant mortality, visits to outworkers, etc., prevent the inspector from paying repeated
visits in every case. Disinfection is performed after every death from phthisis. The Borough Council
retains no sanatorium beds, but through the lady sanitary inspector is in touch with relief committees
and the district committee of the Charity Organisation Society. Very few secondary cases
are disclosed among contacts. The medical officer of health, Dr. Louis Parkes, is unable to visit or
examine cases personally, and is of opinion that such work would most effectively be carried out by a
dispensary. There is a project on foot in the Borough for establishing a local health society, and
possibly such society might deal with cases of tuberculosis. Sputum flasks are given to suitable
patients, and sputum is bacteriologically examined free of charge for medical practitioners.
Borough of Deptford.
The deaths during the year 1908 from phthisis were 138. These were the only cases
brought to the notice of the medical officer of health, no system of notification being in force. The
population of the Borough was estimated at 117,539. There is no staff specially detailed to
deal with cases of tuberculosis. On receipt of a notification, under the Public Health (Tuberculosis)
Regulations, 1908, the sanitary inspector who is charged with the duty of following up infectious
diseases visits the house and inspects the premises and reports thereon, and leaves general
directions about the illness and precautions to be taken; no further steps are taken in dealing with
the patient individually. The work of the inspector does not permit of more than occasional visits
being paid to the house at long intervals. At the death of a patient, or when his removal is ascertained,
an offer is made of disinfection of the premises. Dr. Roberts, the medical officer of health, does not
himself pay visits to patients. The contacts with a given case are not medically examined. The
sanitary authority is not in touch with any charitable Institution on the subject of tuberculosis
and does not. retain sanatorium beds. Sputum flasks are not distributed by the Council.
The bacteriological examination of specimens of sputum for medical practitioners is not undertaken by
the Council.
Year.
Cases notified.
Deaths from phthisis.
1902
—
127
1903
—
152
1904
—
161
1905
—
139
1906
—
148
1907
—
156
1908
—
138
Borough of Finsbury.
During the year 1908, when the population was estimated at 96,007, there were 210 deaths from
phthisis. Voluntary notification has been in force in the Borough since the year 1901, and the notification
of cases, year by year, stands as follows.
The yearly deaths are also given for the purposes of comparison.
Year.
Cases notified.
Deaths from phthisis.
1902
121
233
1903
219
227
1904
210
236
1905
178
198
1906
217
212
1907
217
225
1908
220
210