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20
Anthrax, or Malignant Pustule.
There was one death at Guy's Hospital from Anthrax, or
Malignant Pustule, contracted in this District from handling
hides infected with the disease. I found that all reasonable
precautions had been taken by the proprietors and managers
of the wharf. One cannot easily prevent negligence on the
part of the men themselves to make use of the facilities for
cleanliness afforded them. There were also two deaths of
non-parishioners at Guy's, not contracted in the District.
Two men that worked at Topping's Wharf were also
affected, but fortunately recovered after operation at Guy's
Hospital. I found that both the men had been recently
working with some second-class Australian hides. These we
had well disinfected, and they were soon afterwards put into
"Lime."
Phthisis and Diseases of the Respiratory Organs.
In this District there were 32 deaths caused by phthisis,
or 2.5 per 1,000 inhabitants; the corresponding rate for
London was 1.77; 26 by pneumonia, and 40 by bronchitis.
Phthisis, tuberculosis of the lungs, consumption, or
"decline," as it is popularly called, is caused by the tubercle
bacillus, a microscopic organism.
Many other diseases are caused by this bacillus, and are
included amongst tubercular diseases, such as "consumption"
ot the bowels, or tabes mesenterica, which is very freqeunt
in children; diseases of the brain, as tubercular meningitis;
tubercular diseases of glands, bones and joints, which
frequently cause abscesses and deformities.