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consideration which there is no doubt was a case of typhus fever. The patient,
aged 28, a married woman, residing at No.55, Grange Street, was taken ill about
May 12th. She was admitted to the Metropolitan Hospital, Kingsland Road, on the
10th and certified to have enteric fever on the 23rd. Enquiry elicited the fact
that she had been visiting at No. 75, Ocean Street, Stepney, where there had
occurred over a period of two months five cases of illness amongst her relatives
residing there.
The Medical Officer of Health for Stepney was communicated with and
information was received from him that two of the five cases which had been
removed to hospital as being enteric fever were regarded at the fever hospital as
cases of typhus fever. Thereupon the Metropolitan Hospital Authorities were
communicated with and an examination of the patient was made in the light of
the information supplied. The patient's face was flushed, her eyes injected, and
there was a dusky eruption of spots and subcuticular mottling more or less visible
over the trunk and limbs. The aspect of the case was suggestive of typhus fever
and the patient was removed to a fever hospital where the diagnosis was
confirmed.
Disinfection was carried out in the usual way and the residents of No. 55,
Grange Street were kept under observation, but no further cases of illness
suggestive of typhus fever occurred in the house.
TUBERCULOSIS.
Tuberculosis (Appendix, Table V., Nos. 29 to 31 inclusive) was given as the cause
of 248 deaths as compared with 290 in 1912, 266 in 1911, 241 in 1910, 277 in 1909,
311 in 1908, 327 in 1907, 347 in 1906, 321 in 1905, 365 in 1904, 370 in 1903, 295 in
1902, 363 in 1901 and 343 in 1900. The number was considerably below the
average for the past 12 years. The deaths from tuberculosis amounted to 11.8 per
cent. of the total number of deaths from all causes, as compared with 14.3 in 1912,
11.9 in 1911, 12.6 in 1910, 12.6 in 1909, 15.5 in 1908, 14 in 1907 and 15 in 1906.
The death-rate was 2.2 per 1,000 population, as compared with 2.6 in 1912, 2.4 in
1911, 2.1 in 1910, 2.4 in 1909, 2.7 in 1908, 2.8 in 1907, 3.0 in 1906, 2.7 in 1905 and
3.5 in 1904. Comparing the wards, the rate was highest in Whitmore, where it
was 2.5, and lowest in Moorfields Ward, where it amounted to 1.5 per 1,000
inhabitants.
Tuberculosis of the lungs or phthisis, or consumption as it is commonly named,
caused 185 deaths, as comparer with 217 in 1912, 183 in 1911, 169 in 1910, 194 in
1909, 224 in 1908, 232 in 1907 and 233 in 1906. The majority of deaths were of
persons aged from 25 to 65 years. The deaths of males numbered 121 as compared
with 64 for females. The consumption death-rate was 1.7 per 1,000 population as