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
Brentford and Chiswick 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford and Chiswick]
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An unusual occurrence is the report of three cancer deaths in persons below
the age of 30.
The high proportion of cancer of the lung in males is most significant in
view of current medical opinion which tends to relate lung cancer to lung
irritation from chemical inhalants or atmospheric pollution. The figure for
deaths from cancer of the stomach has risen considerably in the last year.
There were no maternal deaths.
Deaths from Tuberculosis are again reduced for the fourth year in succession and the comparison is as follows:-
| Year | Number of deaths from tuberculosis | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Total | |
| 1950 | 20 | 14 | 34 |
| 1951 | 11 | 14 | 25 |
| 1952 | 9 | 6 | 15 |
| 1953 | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| 1954 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
The total number of deaths from violent causes increased for the first time since 1950:-
| 1954 | 1953 | 1952 | 1951 | 1950 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 28 |
Seven residents died through involvement in road accidents. The ages at
death of these cases were:-
Males: 82, 23, 72, 42, 21, 10.
Females: 61.
None of these died in the Borough. In all, 6 persons (including residents
of other places) died as the result of road accidents occurring in Brentford and
Chiswick, one motor cyclist, four pedestrians and one motor car passenger, The
sites of the incidents varied and no place could be cited as a danger spot from
these particular findings.
The local Death Rate, 11.17, is lower than the figure of 11.3 which was the
Death Rate from all causes in the whole of England and Wales.
Table I gives a list of Causes of Death as classified according to the
International system agreed by the World Health Organisation and in operation
since November, 1949.
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