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periods when human life is economically the most valuable—
namely, during adolescence and early maturity. In the
mortality due to pulmonary phthisis, the most important
member of this group, there has been since the decade ending
with 1860 even greater reduction than in that resulting from
tuberculous diseases generally; a fall has taken place in the
death-rate at every stage of life, and in the several age groups
comprised within the interval between the fifteenth and fortyfifth
years the fall since that decade has ranged from 32 to
not less than 58 per cent.
Amongst young children pulmonary phthisis is seldom fatal
nowadays, and among infants under five years old such mortality
as still occurs averages only one-third of what it was
forty-five years ago. But there is one member of the tuberculous
group, tabes mesenterica, to which children are
especially liable, and the mortality from this malady instead of
falling has actually increased since 1860 by nearly 28 per cent.
Sir R. Thorne points out that whereas pulmonary phthisis
is generally produced by the inhalation into the lungs of
particles of dried sputa from persons already suffering from
phthisis, tabes mesenterica is chiefly caused in young children
by the ingestion of food and especially of uncooked milk from
diseased cows which contains the tubercle bacillus in an
active and infective state, the latter finding its way into the
mesenteric glands and so infecting the whole body. He also
expresses the opinion that compulsory notification of phthisis
is impracticable and undesirable in the best interests of public
health, and that it would cause infinitely more mischief than
it could possibly avert or cure.
Bacteriological Examination in connection with the
Diagnosis op Infectious Diseases.
With a view to assisting Medical Practitioners in the
district in the diagnosis of Infectious Diseases, the Vestry has'
now provided at the Town Hall, an incubator, sterilizer and a
powerful microscope. The apparatus can be used free of
charge on application to the Public Health Department,
between the hours of 10.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. (Sundays
excepted), and between 10.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. on
Saturdays.
Measles.—Measles were very prevalent at the beginning of
the year at St. John's Infant School, Tufton Street. On