London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Battersea 1902
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1903
This page requires JavaScript
TABLE XVII.
| District. | Phthisis. | Other Tubercular Diseases. | Total. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of Deaths. | Rate. | No. of Deaths. | Rate. | No. of Deaths. | Rate. | |
| East Battersea | 93 | 1.26 | 32 | .43 | 125 | 1.70 |
| Nth -West Battersea | 76 | 1.53 | 42 | .84 | 118 | 2'37 |
| Sth.-West Battersea | 53 | 1.04 | 15 | .29 | 68 | 1.34 |
| The Borough | 222 | 1.28 | 89 | .51 | 311 | 1.79 |
The deaths from Tuberculosis formed 12 per cent. of the
total deaths, and the disease caused a greater mortality than
all the " zymotic " diseases, with the exception of diarrhæa,
put together.
Disinfection was carried out in 43 per cent. of the fatal
cases occurring in private houses.
Forty-three specimens of sputum from doubtful cases of
consumption were submitted to bacteriological examination,
the result being positive in 13 and negative in 30 cases.
Cancer.
Table XVIII. gives the deaths and the death-rate from
Cancer during- the last ten years. The table appears to show
an increased mortality from Cancer during the decennium,
but it is doubtful whether this has really been the case.
Probably much, if not all, of the supposed increase is due to
improved diagnosis and certification.