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3.
because three deaths were of triplets, and four others of twins,
which are notoriously more premature than in the case of single
births, and therefore less likely to survive).
Deaths from tuberculosis were fewer in 1950 than ever before
in the Borough, but even the figure of 20 will be improved in the
near future, I am certain, especially if spitting on pavements
ceases, as it should with education. At the same time I am pleased to
be able to indicate that the 1950 death rate was only 0.45 per 1,000
as opposed to the next best of 0.74 per 1,000 (1947). As regards
the early diagnosis of tuberculosis, we were fortunate in having a
Mass Radiography Unit established in the area during May, and,
although their more permanent headquarters were not established until
November, by using Factory premises in the Borough, they were enabled
to examine 2,700 of the Borough's workers. Details of their work
from 20, Golden Lane, which, though in the City of London is easy of
access to Shoreditch people, will be given in next year's report,
and should help to reduce the mortality even further, by getting
victims treated at an earlier and curable stage of the disease. Apart
from this disease, 12 influenzal and one death from syphilitic
aneurism there were no deaths from infectious disease, as opposed to
801 in 1900.
The case for cancer is unfortunately not so favourable, as,
although the figures for 1900 are vitiated by imperfect diagnosis,
as indicated by the then Medical Officer of Health, who said "in
addition to the deaths stated to have been due to cancer, there were
6 deaths due to malignant disease, some of which may have been
attributable to cancer", the total deaths from this disease in 1900
were only (67 + 6) despite the much larger population, as against
96 in 1950. Of these 96 deaths, no fewer than 19 were due to cancer
of the "lung and bronchi" but although this is the first year in
which the Registrar General has separated this area from "all other
sites", we have realised since 1947 that the condition was becoming
more prevalent. In this connection, as we go to Press, the "Lancet"
states that "Doll & Bradford Hill reached the speculative conclusion
that among the population of Greater London over the age of 45, those
who smoked 25 or more cigarettes a day had an approximately fifty
times greater chance of developing cancer of the lung than non-smokers
of a similar age". Smokers may take comfort that the same does not
apply to pipe smokers, and would, perhaps, be well advised to
consider investing in a pipe as a precautionary measure! (The pipe
stem can quite easily be kept in a cleanly or even sterile condition).
On the subject of Social Welfare, I have thought it desirable to
write rather more fully than usual (page 22 ) as it appears that
Shoreditch is well in the forefront of this service, both in duration
and extent, despite recent interest developing in other parts of the
country.
Under Part III of the Housing Act, 1936, official representation