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
Deptford 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Deptford, Metropolitan Borough of]
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In 1931, in fact, heart disease accounted for 251 out of 1,000 deaths
from all causes. Inasmuch as rheumatism has been shown to be the
commonest forerunner of heart disease, it is obvious that the care of
the rheumatic child calls for urgent attention.
Influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia and cancer showed an increase in
1931; pulmonary tuberculosis which, formerly, in Deptford ranked
as the third, now occupies the fourth place as the cause of death.
Conditions of Occupation or Environment prejudicially
affecting Health.
Occupation. No specially detrimental effects amongst workers in
any trade has been reported.
Environment. The adverse housing conditions and resulting overcrowding
still constitute most formidable barriers to an improvement
in public health.
Public Mortuary.
During the year there were received the bodies of 340 persons who had been residents of the following districts:—
| Deptford | 86 | Bexley Heath | 2 |
| Greenwich | 40 | Chatham | 1 |
| Bermondsey | 51 | Becontree | 1 |
| Woolwich | 81 | Chislehurst | 1 |
| Lewisham | 30 | Welling, Kent | 1 |
| Camberwell | 4 | Chingford | 1 |
| Holborn | 2 | Croydon | |
| Hammersmith | 1 | Oldham, Lancs | 1 |
| Lambeth | 3 | Greece | 1 |
| Southwark | 5 | Erith | 1 |
| Stepney | 2 | Dartford | 1 |
| Poplar | 6 | Wimbledon | 1 |
| Paddington | 1 | Stroud Green | 1 |
| Hampstead | 1 | Sweden | 2 |
| Kensington | 1 | Tuffnell Park | 1 |
| Westminster | 3 | Unknown | 2 |
| East Ham | 3 |
Particulars of the bodies received were as follows:
| Total. | Male. | Female. | Inquests. | Postmortems. | Under 1 year of age. | Un-known. | Deposited to await burial only. | Infec-tious. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 |