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
Holborn 1904
Report for the year 1904 of the Medical Officer of Health
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17
In May, 1904, an important Interim Report was issued by the Royal Commission appointed to
consider the relation of Bovine to Human Tuberculosis. The report stated that as the result of
extensive experiments, it was shown that human tubercle could give rise in the bovine animal to
tuberculosis identical with ordinary bovine tuberculosis. There is therefore no justification for any
relaxation of the precautions hitherto employed to prevent the infection of human beings with
tuberculosis of animal origin.
INFLUENZA.
During the year there were only 8 deaths registered as due to influenza—4 in St. Giles and
Bloomsbury, and 4 in the Holborn Division.
ALCOHOLISM.
Only 23 deaths were assigned to alcoholism or cirrhosis of the liver, 12 in St. Giles and
Bloomsbury and 11 in the Holborn Division. These represent only a small proportion of the deaths
really caused by alcoholism as they are frequently registered under the headings of other secondary
causes.
CANCER.
Fifty-four deaths were registered as due to cancer or malignant disease, 28 belonging to St.
Giles and Bloomsbury and 26 to the Holborn Division.
Further details of the causes of and ages at death are given in Table 4 of the Appendix.
The following inquests on the bodies of Parishioners were held:—
Coroner: Dr. G. P. Danford Thomas, 20, Brunswick Square.
Inquiry Officer: Mr. Richard Powell, 58, Hemingford Road, Barnsbury, N.
| Total Number. | Cause of Death. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural. | Accidents. | Suicide. | ||
136 bodies were received (28 being non-parishioners), and on these 77 inquests were held, and 53 post-mortems made.
| District. | Bodies Received, | Inquests held. | Post-mortems. | Non-Parishioners. |
|---|---|---|---|---|