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
West Ham 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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(c) CANCER
The number of deaths attributed to cancer (352) shows an increase of 6l compared
with 1953.
The following table gives an analysis of the age and sex distribution as well as the localisation of the disease in all persons certified as dying from cancer during the
year.
| Age Groups | Malignant Neoplasm | Other Malignant & Lymphatic Neoplasms | TOTAL | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stomach | Lung & Bronchus | Breast | Uterus | ||||||||
| M. | F. | M. | F. | F. | M. | F. | |||||
| 0-14 | - | - | 5 | 5 | |||||||
| 15 - 24 | - | - | - | 3 | 1 | 4 | |||||
| 25 - 44 | 4 | 2 | 6 | - | 3 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 27 | ||
| 45 - 64 | 10 | 6 | 42 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 27 | 19 | 128 | ||
| 65 - 74 | 10 | 5 | 25 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 28 | 24 | 114 | ||
| 75 & over | 8 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 24 | 16 | 74 | ||
| TOTALS: | 32 | 21 | 79 | 17 | 30 | 15 | 90 | 68 | 352 | ||
Twenty-two per cent, of the deaths from all causes in the Borough were due to
cancer; the percentage for all deaths registered in England and Wales was for cancer 2.04
(d) VENEREAL DISEASES.
The Special Clinic for the investigation, follow-up and treatment of venereal diseases
is held at Queen Mary's Hospital, Stratford, under the direction of the Consultant Venereologist,
Dr.F.G.Macdonald, to whom I am indebted for the following report. (The figures in brackets are
the corresponding ones for 1953).
The total number of patients who attended was 553. This figure includes 142 who were
already under treatment or observation at the beginning of the year.
New patients 4ll (404)
Total attendances 2,759 (3,308)
The diagnosis was as follows:-
Syphilis in primary or secondary stage 1 (2)
Syphilis in the early latent stage 1 (-)
Syphilis in later (non-infective) stages 12 (l6 )
Congenital Syphilis 1 (10)
Gonorrhea 26 (46)
Soft Sore -- (1)
Urethritis 35 (38)
Other Conditions 299(249)
Cases previously treated elsewhere 15 (18)
Return cases 27 (24-)
It will be noticed that there was a marked decline in the number of cases of syphilis
and gonorrhea seen during the year. On the other hand there was a definite increase of
Other Conditions". This heading includes non-specific ulcers, vaginitis and cervicitis,
which are in most instances of venereal origin, and those who attend for routine investigation.
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