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76
The Secretary of the Hospital has kindly supplied the following information
of the work at the Clinic during the year 1931:—
Summary of Work carried out at Dental Clinic, 10, John Street, Holborn, on Tuesday
Evenings, during 1931.
Number of sessions held 49
Number of patients' attendances 319
Number of iillings 73
Number of scalings 10
Without anaesthetic 2
Number otf With local anaesthetic 32
extraction cases
With gas 25
Number of teeth extracted 184
Number of dentures (including repairs) 25
Number of dressings 45
Number for advice 45
Number of denture visits 57
Number of new patients 82
Cancer.
During the year 1931, 79 deaths were recorded as due to Cancer in comparison
with 69 in the previous year. The deaths in 1931 were equal to a rate of 2.29 per
thousand, the corresponding rate in 1930 being 1.79 per thousand. In the year
1911 the death rate from Cancer in the Borough was 1.10, the decennial average
rate was 1-29 for the ten years, 1911-1920, and 1.47 for the ten years, 1921-1930.
It will be seen that the death rate from Cancer in the Borough in 1931 was
higher than in the previous year, being 2.29 per thousand in comparison with 1.79 per
thousand. The rate, however, for one year in districts of comparatively small populations
does not furnish a reliable indication of the prevalence of a particular disease. The decennial
rates which afford much more reliable indication of the seriousness of Cancer show that in the
past 20 years there has apparently been a marked increase in the death rate from this disease,
for while the decennial average for the ten years, 1911-1920 was 1.29, the corresponding rate
for the ten years, 1921-1930, was 1.47. Some part of this increase may reasonably be attributed
to improved facilities for diagnosis. The figures indicate the high mortality from malignant
diseases.
The Foundling Hospital Site.
The establishment of a day nursery and a play centre for children at the
Foundling Hospital Site has been referred to in previous Annual Reports. These
activities were maintained during 1931.
The most recent information available at the date of preparation of this report
is that the Appeal Council have successfully negotiated a contract for the purchase
of a space equal in area to one quarter of the site, and adjoining two portions
previously purchased by Lord Rothermere. The whole of this is to be administered
by the same committee. In area it is equal to five-eighths of the whole site.