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 1939

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]

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Table: Deaths in Institutions.Half the total deaths registered occurred in hospitals and institutions. Two hundred and fifty-seven, representing 50 % of the whole, took place in the following premises:—

Deaths in Institutions.Half the total deaths registered occurred in hospitals and institutions. Two hundred and fifty-seven, representing 50 % of the whole, took place in the following premises:—

Institutions.Deaths.
Nelson Hospital21
Surrey County Hospitals119
Isolation Hospitals2
London and other general Hospitals95
Tuberculosis Institutions11
Mental Institutions9
257

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CAUSES OF DEATH.
Heart Disease. This group of diseases maintains its position
as the chief cause of death. It was responsible for 127
deaths giving a death rate for the group of 1.7 per thousand
population, as against a rate of 1.5 in 1938.
Cancer. Cancer deaths at 81 were nine less than previously
and the death rate for this cause fell slightly to 1.1
per thousand population. As before it was the second chief
cause of mortality and showed a slightly heavier incidence among
women, 42 females dying of the disease as against 39 males.

Table: The cancer death rates for the last 12 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 :—

The cancer death rates for the last 12 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 :—

Y ear.Death Rate per 1,000 population.Year.Death Rate per 1,000 population.
19281.419341.2
19291.119351.0
19301.219361.2
19310.919371.4
19321.219381.2
19331.019391.1

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Respiratory Diseases. Epidemic influenza caused 14
deaths compared with 4 in the previous year. Respiratory
diseases, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc., other than those stated to
be influenzal, were less fatal, 34 persons dying of these conditions
as against 49. The death rate for these diseases was
accordingly 0.4 per thousand of the population:—
16