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
Bethnal Green 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bethnal Green Borough]
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CANCER. Cancer was responsible for 129 deaths or 9 per cent. of the total deaths in the Borough. The local distribution of the disease in these deaths was as follows:—
| M. | F. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buccal cavity, pharynx | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| Digestive organs and | |||
| peritoneum | 38 | 33 | 71 |
| (Esophagus (9-1) | |||
| Stomach (12-9) | |||
| Intestines (8-11) | |||
| Rectum (4-3) | |||
| Others (5-9) | |||
| Respiratory organs | 12 | 2 | 14 |
| Uterus | — | 4 | 4 |
| Other female genital | |||
| organs | — | 3 | 3 |
| Breast | — | 12 | 12 |
| Male genito - urinary | |||
| organs | 4 | — | 4 |
| Skin | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Other or unspecified | |||
| organs | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| 64 | 63 | 127* |
*Two other deaths were found by the Registrar-General, upon
enquiry, to be due to cancer, but I am not acquainted
with the localisation of the disease in these cases.
The fact that Cancer causes nearly one-tenth of
the mortality in the Borough (which is not dissimilar
in this respect from the rest of the country) should
compel greater attention to this terrible disease.
DEATHS FROM MOTOR TRAFFIC.
Last year I drew attention to the steadily increasing