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25
Other Tubercular Diseases.
There were 202 deaths from Tubercular Diseases, other than Phthisis.
This corresponds to a death-rate of .65 per 1,000 of the population.
51 belonged to the Limehouse District, or at the rate of .83 per 1,000.
50 belonged to the St. George's District, or at the rate of .95 per 1,000.
59 belonged to the Mile End District, or at the rate of .50 per 1,000.
42 belonged to the Whitechapel District, or at the rate of .52 per 1,000.
It is observed that Phthisis is more prevalent in this Borough than in
the whole of London, although there are several Metropolitan Boroughs
with even a higher death-rate, notably those of central London. It was lower
in Mile End and the Limehouse District than in St. George's and the
Whitechapel District—areas in which there is a greater relative population
of Jews. Comparing the number of deaths from Phthisis to the total deaths
of persons above five years of age, it is also very marked. In the Limehouse
District nearly 16 per cent. of all deaths, over five years of age, were due
to Phthisis. The rate in St. George's was over 18 per cent., in Mile End
nearly 14 per cent., and in the Whitechapel District nearly 19 per cent.
This tends to disprove what used to be believed, that Jews were comparatively
free from Phthisis, due partly to the more careful and stringent
examination to which the butcher's meat is subjected to, before it is placed
upon the market.
On one occasion only, during the last year, was tubercular meat found
exposed for sale by Jewish butchers. There is thus very little risk, therefore,
of being infected in this direction.
The Jewish Board of Guardians have appointed two ladies to act as
Health Visitors. One of their duties is to visit patients suffering from Phthisis.
The Public Health Committee, some time ago, authorised me to make arrangements
to examine the sputa of patients visited by these Health Visitors.
During the year the sputa of 162 Jewish patients were examined, but the tubercle
bacilli could only be detected in 33 of them.
The patients that they visit belong naturally to the poorer class. From
75 to 80 per cent. of those visited, work at a trade where they have to stoop
or bend at their work, viz., the tailoring and boot trades.