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25
INQUESTS
A general inquiry as to the cheaper makes of shaving brushes sold in the Borough was
made and other brushes were found to be on sale which came from supplies found to be
infected. The brushes were all of Japanese manufacture. In the end an Order in Council
was made in February, 1920, pursuant to Sec. 1 of the Anthrax Prevention Act, 1919, prohibiting
the importation of shaving brushes made in Japan.
All suspected shaving brushes found in local shops were either returned to the wholesale
vendors or destroyed.
Alcoholism.
The mortality from alcoholic excess is measured by the deaths from Acute Alcoholism
(delirium tremens) and from Cirrhosis of the Liver—the error caused by the inclusion of the
few cases of non-alcoholic cirrhosis being ignored. (See Table VIII. B, Appendix.)
Acute Alcoholism.—During 1909-13 the deaths averaged 11 each year, which figure fell to
7 during 1914-18. In 1919 there were only 2 deaths from this cause and during 1920, 4.
Cirrhosis of the Liver.—The annual average number of deaths rose from 15 during 1909-13
to 19 during 1914-18. In 1919 and 1920, 6 deaths were recorded each year.
Combining the above figures it appears that whereas the annual average both for 1909-13
and 1914-18 was 26 deaths, the records for 1919 and 1920 were 8 and 10 respectively—showing
reductions of 69.3 and 6T6 per cent. respectively.
Venereal Diseases.
Prevalence.—No information is available as to the numbers of attacks of the various forms
of venereal diseases. A "V.D. Clinic" was opened at St. Mary's Hospital in January, 1917,
which was attended by 999 patients in 1919 and 1003 in 1920. Nothing is known as to the
areas from which those patients came.
Mortality.—The deaths ascribed to syphilis—practically the only form of venereal disease
appearing in death certificates—afford but an imperfect measure of the prevalence of the
venereal diseases. Stiil-births, prematurity and many other causes of death could be traced to
attacks of syphilis or gonorrhoea if full information could be obtained.
The deaths from syphilis averaged 11 per annum during 1909-13, rose to 15 during 1914-18
and fell to 7 and 9 respectively in 1919 and 1920—or 36 and 18 per cent, below the average
for 1909-13.
INQUESTS.
During 1909-13, 793 deaths were registered after coroners' inquisitions, equal to 8.4 per
cent, of the corrected total number of deaths, the proportion increasing to 10.0 per cent. during
1914-18, when 1039 inquests were held. In 1919 (175 inquests) the proportion was 9.1 per cent.
and in 1920 (166 inquests) 9.7. Table XVIII. Appendix contains an analysis of the findings of
the juries at inquests held during the past two years.
There has been a slight increase in the proportion of male deaths forming subjects ot
inquests, the percentages being—1909-13, 57.6; 1914-18, 52.8 and 1919-20, 58.3.
As regards the frequency of death from natural causes and violence, there is to be noted
an increase of the former, the percentages being—1909-13, 46.4; 1914-18, 42.1 and 1919-20, 504.
The proportion of deaths attributed to suicide fell slightly during the war, but has returned to
prae-war level, the percentages being—1909-13, 9.8; 1914-18, 7.4 and 1919-20, 9.9. On the
other hand, deaths attributed to accidents increased during the war, even after excluding
deaths due to enemy bombs, but have fallen below the prae-war level during the past two years.
The percentages are—1909-13, 28.7; 1914-18, 33.8 and 1919-20, 27.8. There has been a
decrease in the proportion of inquests arising from road traffic. During 1909-13 there were
70 inquests, including 18 on deaths caused by motors ; in 1914-18, 80 (20 due to motors) and
during 1919-20, 17 (4 due to motors). The proportions of deaths due to road traffic (percentages
of all inquest cases) were 1909-13, 8.8; 1914-18, 7.7 and 1919-20, 4.9, and the proportions of
deaths due to motor traffic (percentage of deaths due to road traffic) were 1909-13, 25.7;
1914-18, 25.0 and 1919-20, 23.5.