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Alcoholism, Delirium Tremens, was the cause of 16 deaths, eight in each of the sub-districts.
The deaths in London, as a whole, were 644. It is scarcely necessary, perhaps, to remark that if
all the deaths due, directly or indirectly, to the immoderate use of intoxicating liquors were
correctly certified, alcoholism would occupy a more prominent position in the bills of mortality;
but many deaths due to the misuse of alcohol get certified, and are necessarily classified, to visceral
and degenerative diseases caused or aggravated by drink.
Rheumatic Fever, Acute Rheumatism, was the cause of 12 deaths, all of them in the Town
sub-district.
Malignatit Disease, Cancer, was accountable for 187 deaths; 136 in the Town sub-district
and 51 in Brompton. Carcinoma was the registered cause in 85 cases, Sarcoma in 11, and Malignant
Disease, Cancer, in 91. Cancer would appear to be on the increase in the country generally;
possibly, however, some portion of the apparent increase in the number of deaths classified to this
cause, may be due to greater accuracy in diagnosis. The deaths in Kensington in the ten preceding
years were 140, 143, 136, 173, 168, 193, 169, 152, 185, and 155 respectively. The deaths in 1903
were equal to 10·5 per ten thousand living, and to 7·6 per cent. of all deaths registered.
Deaths from Malignant Disease are usually more numerous proportionately to population, in
the Brompton sub-district than in the relatively poorer Town sub-district, Cancer being quite as
prevalent, probably more prevalent, amongst well-to-do people, than in the poorer classes. The
parts of the body most commonly affected are the viscera or internal organs; in women, the uterus
and the breast; the disease, moreover, being for the most part one of later life. Thus 161 of the
deaths took place at ages above forty-five, and 18 between thirty-five and forty-five years.
In London as a whole, the deaths from Malignant Disease, Cancer, were 4,695, and 603 above
the corrected decennial average.
Premature Birth was the cause of 61 deaths, 51 in the Town sub-district and 10 in Brompton ;
Old Age of 60; 47 and 13 in the two sub-districts respectively; including 6 between 65 and 75
years, 35 between 75 and 85, and 18 at 85 years and upwards.
LOCAL DISEASES.
Nervous System.—The deaths from the diseases of this system were 123; 100 in the Town
sub-district and 23 in Brompton—as compared with 257, 246, and 146, in the three preceding years
—32 of them occurred under five years of age. Twenty of the deaths were due to Convulsions (an
objectionable term), and 23 to diseases which, not being named specifically in the "New List," are
classified to "Other Diseases" of the System. The number of deaths from the several other
diseases are set out in Table VIII, page 92.
Circulatory System.—The deaths from Diseases of the Heart were 196; 143 in the Town subdistrict
and 53 in Brompton—as compared with 227, 236, and 251, in the three preceding years.
The larger number of the deaths, 98, were registered from "Syncope, Heart Disease (not specified)."
Valvular Disease was accountable for 59 deaths, Angina Pectoris for 9, Dilatation of Heart for 15, and
Fatty Degeneration for 10.
Diseases of Blood Vessels were the causes of 129 deaths, 99 in the Town sub-district and 30 in
Brompton, including 69 from Cerebral Hemorrhage, Embolism, Thrombosis; and 40 from Apoplexy,
Hemiplegia, conditions which generally connote cerebral hemorrhage.
Respiratory System. The diseases of the Respiratory Organs (phthisis being excluded), were
accountable for 482 deaths, 413 in the Town sub-district and 69 in Brompton—as compared with
542, 511, and 626, in the three preceding years. The principal causes were Bronchitis 229 deaths,
and Pneumonia, in one or other of its forms, 197 deaths. The deaths under five years of age were
182, or 38·1 per cent. of the total number, as compared with 31·5, 32·9, and 31·8 per cent. in the
three preceding years; and at 55 and upwards 206, or 43·1 per cent. against 47·9, 44·2, and 44·9 in
the three preceding years. Bronchitis and Pneumonia were accountable for 426 deaths (including
175 under five years of age), of which 57 were registered in the Brompton sub-district.
Digestive System. The diseases of the Digestive System were accountable for 158 deaths;
112 and 46 in the Town and Brompton sub-districts respectively; 36 of them under five years of
age. The chief causes were Cirrhosis of the Liver 27 deaths, Other Diseases of the Liver and Gall
Bladder 15 deaths, Intestinal Obstruction 15, Enteritis 11, Gastric Ulcer 13, and Appendicitis 20.
Urinary System. One hundred and five deaths were due to diseases of the urinary system;
76 and 29 in the Town and Brompton sub-districts respectively; Chronic Blight's Disease
(Albuminuria), being the cause of 59 deaths, Nephritis (Acute), of 8, Bladder and Prostate Disease
of 14, and other Diseases of the Urinary System 21.