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58
Until last year there was but very slight reduction in tuberculosis
of intestines and peritoneum. If this disease, as Dr. Koch
and others think, is mainly contracted from other persons in
the home suffering from phthisis, the reduction should have
been greater. If, on the other hand, it is mainly due to the
consumption of tuberculous milk, little diminution could be
expected until some radical step was taken for preventing the
importation into the Borough of such milk. Such a step was
taken when the London County Council (General Powers) Act,
1907, came into operation in 1908, and the decrease of deaths
from tuberculosis of the abdomen may be the direct result of
this action, but it is too soon to draw this conclusion.
For fiteen years the inhabitants of Woolwich have been
advised to make, and have to a large extent made, a practice
of boiling all milk before consumption, and to this fact is
probably due that Woolwich has so small a death.rate from
consumption of the bowels.
74. 88 of those who died from phthisis were males, and 62
females. In 1906 there were 97 males and 67 females; in
1907, 82 males and 72 females; and in 1908, 101 males and
55 females.
75. The source of infection was attributed in 93 deaths
from tuberculosis, with more or less probability, as follows:—
Family or personal—Father 16
Husband 4
Mother 15
Brother 5
Sister 5
Other relatives 8
Carried forward 53