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Annual Report for 1901. Most of the deaths occurred during the first half of the
year. During the second half only one death was recorded, that occurred in
December.
The deaths attributed to influenza in the metropolis numbered 723, as compared
with 1,231 in 1909, 1,334 in 1908, 967 in 1907, 895 in 1906, 664 in 1905, 707 in 1904,
664 in 1903, 1,036 in 1902, 664 in 1901 and 1,950 in 1900. The deaths were most
numerous during the months of January, February, March and December, and least
so during June, July and August.
TUBERCULOSIS.
Tuberculosis (appendix Table V., Nos. 29 to 34 inclusive) was given as the
cause of 241 deaths, as compared with 277 in 1909, 311 in 1908, 327 in 1907, 347 in
1906, 321 in 1905, 365 in 1904, 376 in 1903, 295 in 1902, 363 in 1901 and 343 in 1900.
The number was therefore again considerably below the average for recent years,
and was, in fact, the smallest number so far recorded for any year in Shoreditch.
The deaths from tuberculosis in the Borough amounted to 12'6 per cent. of the total
number of deaths from all causes, as compared with 12.6 in 1909, 15.5 in 1908, 14 in
1907 and 15 in 1906. The death-rate was 2.l per 1,000 population, as compared
with 2.4 in 1909, 2 7 in 1908, 2.8 in 1907, 3.0 in 1906, 27 in 1905 and 3.5 in 1904.
Since the year 1856 the mortality from tuberculosis has gradually decreased in
Shoreditch. With the lapse of time, the difference between the mortality of fifty
years ago and of the present day has become very marked. Taking the nine years,
1856 to 1864, the tuberculosis death-rate for that period averaged 4 2 per 1,000
population ; for the nine years ending 1910, the average has been 2.7 per 1,000; the
difference between these two figures represents a decrease of 35 per cent. Although
during recent years some efforts have been made, more especially with a view to
checking the spread of consumption or tuberculosis of the lungs in the Borough,
which may not, perhaps, have been without some effect, the decrease above indicated
must in the main be ascribed to the general improvement which has gradually been
effected in the sanitary condition of the Borough and the measures which have been
instituted generally with a view to that object. With increased efforts specially
directed against the disease itself a further and marked decrease in its mortality
may with good reason be expected and the establishment of a tuberculosis dispen
sary in the Borough would go a long way towards achieving this object. Comparing
the Wards the tuberculosis death-rate was highest in Whitmore where it amounted
to 3.5 per 1,000 and lowest in Moorfields where it was only 0.2 per 1,000 which is
exceptional; the next lowest was 1.4 for Acton Ward.
Tuberculosis of the lungs or consumption was the cause of 169 deaths, as
compared with 194 in 1909, 224 in 1908, 232 in 1907, and 233 in 1906. Most of the
deaths were of persons aged from 25 to 55 years ; 110 were of males, and 59 of
females. The consumption death-rate was 1.4 per 1,000 inhabitants, as compaied