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
Chislehurst 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chislehurst]
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15
One of the more satisfactory features in these figures is the
not inconsiderable fall in the number of deaths attributed to cancer
generally, and to cancer of the lung in particular, but it would be
wise to say that no false hopes should be raised for the future on
the evidence of one year only.
Deaths from violence have only dropped by one compared with
the previous year, but it is pleasing to see that suicides were at
their lowest level for several years past.
Deaths from tuberculosis rose a little, last year, but still remain
at a very low number. As was forecast in my report last year,
a further fall could scarcely be anticipated reasonably.
MORBIDITY STATISTICS.
The year 1956 followed the expected trend, the highest incidence of illness occurring during January and February and then declining to its lowest level in August, before gradually rising again towards the end of the year.
| Four weeks ending 1956. | Number of certificates of incapacity. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| First. | Intermediate. | Final. | |
| 31st January | 1,196 | 4,173 | 1,048 |
| 28th February | 1,474 | 4,428 | 1,277 |
| 27th March | 991 | 4,218 | 1,253 |
| 24th April | 674 | 3,637 | 743 |
| 22nd May | 625 | 3,487 | 602 |
| 19th June | 570 | 3,505 | 616 |
| 17th July | 549 | 3,416 | 496 |
| 14th August | 465 | 3,152 | 477 |
| 11th September | 553 | 3,018 | 480 |
| 9th October | 724 | 3,346 | 604 |
| 6th November | 930 | 3,399 | 810 |
| 4th December | 941 | 3,662 | 864 |
| 1st January (1957) | 667 | 3,037 | 637 |
MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS.
Twenty-nine members, or potential members of the staff, were
medically examined for superannuation purposes etc. during the
year.