London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
East Ham 1905
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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The following table gives the number of deaths and the death-rate from Tubercular diseases and the death-rate from all causes for the past five years :—
| Deaths from Tubercular Dis. | Death-rate per 1,000 population. | Total death-rate from all causes per 1,000. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 125 | 1.30 | 15.1 |
| 1902 | 84 | 0.93 | 11.9 |
| 1903 | 137 | 1.24 | 11.4 |
| 1904 | 197 | 1.68 | 13.7 |
| 19.5 | 158 | 1.28 | 12.3 |
The death-rate for the different Wards for 1905, was as follows:—
| Beck. & N. W'ch. | Cent. East. | Cent. West. | Manor Park. | Plash. East. | Plash. West. | Total Av. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phthisis | 1.29 | 0.88 | 1.0 | 0.82 | 0.69 | 0.71 | 0.89. | |
| Other Tubercular Diseases | 0.59 | 0.42 | 0.31 | 0.44 | 0.32 | 0.31 | 0.39. | |
In England and Wales about 60,000 deaths are due every
year to Tubercular diseases.
It is therefore obvious that no apology is needed for discussing
at length so important a subject, especially as Consumptions
a preventible disease, and should therefore be prevented.
The disease is caused by a germ, the tubercle bacillus, this is
contained in the expectoration of all consumptives. A patient in
the advanced stage will throw off millions daily. The filthy habit
of promiscuous spitting is largely responsible for the spread of the
disease, for when dry, the germs in the expectoration are blown
about in dust, get inhaled, and so cause the disease.
The more stringent regulations now being made against
spitting in public places and vehicles are therefore quite justifiable,
and I think locally some similar steps might with advantage be
taken to limit the amount of expectoration in our tram-cars,
and public places.
At present we have no knowledge as to the number of cases
existing in the Borough, though should the medical practitioners
care to voluntarily notify them, as is done in some districts, the