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49
Phthisis and Other Tuberculous Diseases.
The total deaths due to the diseases dealt with under this heading, viz., phthisis
(pulmonary tuberculosis or consumption of the lungs), tuberculous meningitis,
general tuberculosis, tabes mesenterica, and all conditions due to the germ of
consumption, numbered 116, a figure smaller by 74 than that for 1918, and the
smallest number ever registered in the Borough.
The great bulk of the 116 deaths, viz., 104, was due to phthisis. The number
in 1918 was 167.
Of the total number of deaths registered (1,568), the percentage due to phthisis
Was 6.6, as against 9.1 in 1918. The age periods at which the deaths occurred were:
2—5 years, 0 (0.0 per cent.); 5—15, 2 (1.9 per cent.); 15—25, 13 (12.5 per cent.);
25—45, 30 (28.8 per cent.); 45—65, 49 (47.1 per cent.); 65 and over, 10 (9.6per cent.).
Below the age of two years, 5 deaths were certified as having occurred from
this disease.
The subject of phthisis is further discussed in connection with the notification
and prevention of tuberculosis.
The following table gives the figures for each of the years from 1909. It will
be noted that though there have been occasional rises the tendency has all the time
been downwards. The reasons for this will be discussed later.

RESPIRATORY DISEASES.
The number of deaths due to bronchitis, pneumonia, and other diseases of the
organs of respiration was 362. This is lower by 44 than the figure (406) for 1918.
The death rate was 3.6 per 1,000. In 1918 the rate was 4.10. In 1914 there
were 307 deaths, and the rate was 2.70.
The number of deaths certified to be due to bronchitis was 170 as against 191 in
1918. Of this number 114 were amongst persons aged 65 and upwards, and 43
amongst those of the group 45—65.
The deaths traceable to pneumonia numbered 165, and as in the case of
bronchitis the later age groups contributed the greatest numbers, though 29 of the
deaths occurred amongst children under 2 years of age.
In previous reports and particularly those of 1913 and 1914, considerable
reference was made to the respiratory diseases, and to the part played by them in
adding to the death-rate at the extremes of life, especially. In 1913, the practice of