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
Merton and Morden 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
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The mean age at death increased by 2 years over that
for the year before.
The cancer death rates for the last 11 years are given
below. They show no definite trend but were it not for the
fact that during this period the district has grown rapidly,
chiefly by migration into it of young persons who have not yet
reached the cancer age, the figures would probably have been
less favourable:—
Death Rate Death Rate
per 1,000 per 1,000
Year. population. Year. population.
1928 1.4 1934 1.2
1929 1.1 1935 1.0
1930 1.2 1936 1.2
1931 0.9 1937 1.4
1932 1.2 1938 1.2
1933 1.0
Respiratory Diseases. Epidemic influenza was not so
prevalent as in 1937. It caused 4 deaths compared with 16
in the previous year. Respiratory diseases, bronchitis, pneumonia,
etc. other than those stated to be influenzal, were also
less fatal, 49 persons dying of these conditions as against 51.
The death rate for these diseases was accordingly
| Year | Bronchitis | Pneumonia | Other Respiratory Diseases | Total | Death Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | 6 | 16 | 1 | 28 | *1.2 |
| 1926 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 19 | 0.9 |
| 1927 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 26 | *1.2 |
| 1928 | 8 | 14 | 2 | 24 | 0.9 |
| 1929 | 11 | 20 | 4 | 85 | *1.2 |
| 1930 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 0.4 |
| 1931 | 8 | 24 | 4 | 36 | 0.8 |
| 1932 | 11 | 27 | 8 | 41 | 0.8 |
| 1933 | 12 | 32 | 6 | 60 | 0.9 |
| 1934 | 7 | 88 | 4 | 49 | 0.8 |
| 1935 | 9 | 22 | 6 | 87 | 0.6 |
| 1936 | 2 | 35 | 2 | 89 | 0.6 |
| 1987 | 14 | 81 | 6 | 51 | 0.8 |
| 1938 | 15 | 27 | 7 | 49 | 0.7 |
('Years of high influenzal mortality)
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