76 
PROF. T. CARNELLEY, MR. J. S. HALDANE, AND DR. A. M. ANDERSON 
class of house. This, however, is not so according to the Table, for the death-rate 
from phthisis is much the highest in 3-roomed houses, and then diminishes to 
1 -roomed houses, in which it becomes almost as low as in better-class houses. When 
the deaths from phthisis in the Poor-houses and Infirmary are set down against those 
living in 1- and 2-roomed houses, this class has still a lower death-rate from phthisis 
than those living in 3-roomed houses. On consideration, the explanation of this 
appears to be quite simple. Deaths from phthisis do not usually occur much under 
20 years of age, tubercular disease under that age usually taking other forms. Now 
those living in 1-roomed houses, and who would be most liable to be attacked by 
phthisis, have been already killed off at a much earlier age by diarrhoea, acute bron¬ 
chitis, broncho-pneumonia, tubercular meningitis, etc. ; hence the smaller death-rate 
from phthisis in 1- and 2-roomed houses. In fact, the diseases just mentioned may be 
almost considered as the complement of phthisis, so that as the one increases the total 
of the others diminishes, but less rapidly : their sum, therefore, still shows a marked 
increase from 4- to 1-roomed houses. 
Number of rooms. 
4 and upwards. 
3 
2 
1 
Death-rate per 10,000 from :— 
Diarrhoea, acute bronchitis, broncho-1 
196 
27-6 
39-7 
59-8 
pneumonia, and meningitis . . / 
Phthisis. 
13-0 
• 27-6 
24-4 
14-6 
Total from all the above causes . 
32-6 
55-2 
64T 
74-4 
Were only the cases of diarrhoea occurring during childhood included in the first 
category, the above figures would become still more striking. 
(5.) The considerable increase in acute bronchitis, broncho-pneumonia, etc., as we 
pass from 4- to 1-roomed houses, fully confirms, though in a different way, previous 
observations as to the effect of impure air in promoting pulmonary diseases. A very 
conclusive example of this is given in the report by Deputy Surg.-General Simpson 
(and quoted in Parkes’ 4 Hygiene,’ 6th edit., p. 135) on the health of the South 
Afghanistan field-force during the time they wintered at Candahar in 1880—81. 
(6.) Of those diseases which are usually considered infectious, measles, hooping- 
cough, and diphtheria (including croup) are the only ones for which there are sufficient 
deaths to allow a conclusion to be drawn. Of these, the mortality from measles and 
hooping-cough, but especially the former, shows a very distinct connexion with the 
