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57
69. To judge of the decrease of Tuberculosis it is
necessary to consider carefully the figures given above for
the various forms of disease. It is seen that comparing the
past six years with the previous five, the number of cases
of simple Meningitis has considerably diminished, while that
of Tuberculous Meningitis has increased. The number of
the two together diminished but little until 1910. There
can be little doubt that cases which were formerly called
simple Meningitis are now certified as Tuberculous Meningitis,
and that the latter has really decreased.
Again, it has become increasingly the practice to certify
deaths from such diseases as hip and spinal disease as
Tuberculous. This accounts for the increase of deaths under
Tuberculous—other forms. The real diminution of Tuberculosis
other than Phthisis is no doubt greater than appears
on the surface. The reduction of Phthisis in recent years
is very marked and satisfactory. The slight increase in
1911 is probably due to the hot summer. The fourth
quarter had most deaths from Tuberculosis.
70. Until 1909, 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 great decrease of deaths from