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
Bromley 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bromley]
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18
Other causes of deaths.
During the year 1952, there were 19 deaths from violence,
including 6 suicides, 5 motor vehicle accidents and 8 other
accidents.
Cancer of the Lung.
This shows throughout the country a rise in death rate.
Bromley, likewise, shows an increase from .26 per 1,000 population
in 1951 to .34 in 1952 the two years when records have
been kept. The reason for this is not yet determined—it may
be excessive cigarette smoking, or it may be polluted atmosphere,
either from factory and domestic smoke, or mechanical transport
fumes—it is probably due to the better facilities for diagnosis of
modern medical technique—certain carcinogenic factors are
known, and their abolition must be one of the problems for
future health committees.
Details of deaths from Cancer (all forms) during the past ten years are:—
| Year. | Number of Deaths. | Rate per 1,000 population. | Percentage of Total Deaths recorded for the year. |
|---|---|---|---|
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
There were no maternal deaths in the Borough during 1952.
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
20 infants died during 1952 before reaching their first birthday.
Of this number 17 were legitimate and 3 illegitimate. The
infant mortality rate for the year is 22.0 per 1,000 live births:
19.5 legitimate infants per 1,000 live legitimate births; 85.7
illegitimate infants per 1,000 live illegitimate births. There were
7 neonatal deaths (under one month of age).
The following table shows the number of infant deaths and
the rate per 1,000 live births, over the past ten years:—