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63
The general decrease in the incidence of tuberculosis in the Borough is probably
an expression of the general downward trend which is occurring in many parts of the
country, but there is no gainsaying the fact that the incidence of the disease is influenced
very largely by economic factors and by the social conditions which they
induce. In the case of Shoreditch the last few years has seen a thinning out of the
population. The density per acre has fallen gradually from 141 in 1933 to 129 in
1936. Apart altogether from this general decrease in density and improvement in
housing conditions of the inhabitants as a whole there has been during the last few
years an increasing co-operation between the London County Council and the Borough
Council. So far as the amelioration of conditions of individual patients is concerned
the County Council has given great assistance in the provision of better housing
accommodation for patients.
In my report for 1935 mention was made of the investigation which was being
carried out by Dr. F. Ridehalgh, working at the Royal College of Physicians under
the auspices of the Prophit Trust. During 1936 Dr. Ridehalgh continued to investigate
contacts between the ages of 15 and 25 years. For this work a separate clinic
is held every six weeks, and the investigations include the carrying out of tuberculin
tests and the radiological investigations of the contacts. The cost of the work is
borne by the Prophit Trust.
Statistics.
The total number of cases on the tuberculosis register on 31st December, 1936,
was 1,476, as compared with 1,538 at the corresponding period of the previous year
this represents a decrease of 62 cases.
There were added to the register during the year, on account of fresh notifications
and inward transfers, 151 names. On account of cancellations, as a result of death,
removal from the area, cure, or change in diagnosis, 213 names were removed from
the register (see table on page 65).
Notifications.
During the year there were received notification of 96 cases of pulmonary
and 20 cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis, making a total of 116 cases, of which
61 were males and 55 females. This represents a decrease of 12 in the number of
notifications of pulmonary disease, and a decrease of 7 in the number of cases of
non-pulmonary disease. Compared with the average for the previous five years
these figures represent a decrease of 40 in pulmonary and a decrease of 9 in nonpulmonary
tuberculosis. Of the total cases, 18 were notified by private practitioners
and 98 by medical officers of institutions.