Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Report on the public health of Finsbury 1904 including annual report on factories and workshops
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among women numbered 47, of which 23, or 48.9 per cent., were
cases of cancer of the alimentary canal, and 18, or 38.2 per cent.,
were cases of cancer of the breast or womb.
ALCOHOLISM.
During 1904 nineteen deaths were directly attributed to
alcoholism and delirium tremens. These figures, do not, of
course, represent more than a small proportion of the mortality
really caused by alcoholism. It is more than likely that some of
the deaths of infants attributed to being "laid upon" in bed, are
really caused indirectly by alcoholism. During 1904 there were,
as already pointed out, 31 deaths so caused. Cirrhosis of the
liver, a condition due, as a rule, to alcoholic excess, caused the
death of 25 persons. Hence it may be said that at least 44 deaths
were probably due to alcoholic excess.
The figures are as follows:—
Years. | Alcoholism. | Cirrhosis of Liver. | Total. |
---|---|---|---|
1901 | 11 | 22 | 33 |
1902 | 27 | 21 | 48 |
1903 | 22 | 29 | 51 |
1904 | 19 | 25 | 44 |
Of the 19 deaths due directly to alcoholism, 17 occurred between
the ages of 25 and 60, none occurred under 25, and two occurred
over 60. There can be no doubt that a large number of other
deaths during the year were caused indirectly, or accelerated, by
alcoholic excesses.
There are in Finsbury 309 licensed premises, or one to every
329 persons. In about 100 of these, notices of dilution under the
Food and Drugs Acts are exhibited with the view of protecting
the vendor in the event of prosecution for selling adulterated
spirits.