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Table I. Phthisis.
Sub-dist.
BERMONDSEY.
ROTHERHITHE.
ST. OLAVE'S.
WHOLE BOROUGH.
LONDON.
Year.
No.
Rate.
No.
Rate.
No.
Rate.
No.
Rate.
No.
Rate.
1894
188
2.21
66
1.65
32
2.65
286
2.08
7334
1.69
1895
2.22
32
7742
1.77
190
76
1.89
2.69
298
2.16
1896
176
2.06
90
2.23
26
2.24
292
2.13
7567
1.68
1897
174
2.05
64
1.60
33
2.94
271
1.99
7629
1.71
1898
184
2.19
74
1.87
25
2.31
283
2.10
7746
1.72
183
2.19
75
1.92
28
2.68
286
2.15
8275
1.82
1899
1.78
7809
1.71
1900
169
2.04
47
1.21
29
2.88
235
1.66
1901
150
1.82
57
1.48
19
1.95
226
1.73
7514
177
2.10
69
1.73
28
2.54
272
2.01
7702
1.72
Averages
for years
1894- 1901.
163
1.99
55
1.45
21
2.24
239
1.85
7424
1.62
1902
Respiratory Diseases.
Under this heading are included deaths from bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy, and all
other diseases of the respiratory organs (other than phthisis.) The total number of deaths was
667, viz., 420 for Bermondsey, 183 for Rotherhithe, and 64 for St. Olave's.
Of that number 248 occurred in the first quarter, 125 in the second, 98 in the third,
and 196 in the fourth.
Alcoholism and Cirrhosis of Liver.
33 deaths are placed under this head, the largest number, 29, occurring in the age
period 25- 65. As pointed out in the previous year's report, this number does not accurately
represent the deaths due to this cause, since many people who have been addicted to alcohol
or have cirrhosis of liver are carried off by some other cause.
Cancer.
120 deaths were attributed to this cause, the largest number occurring above 25 years of age.
This is an increase over last year's number of 86. There is general concensus of opinion that
there has been some increase in this disease during the last twenty years, but the apparent
increase during 1902 in Bermondsey can be nothing more than accidental.
Heart Diseases.
157 deaths were attributed to these causes, which is exactly the same number as last year.
Under this head only organic diseases of the heart are included. Other causes, such as heart
failure, have been excluded.
Suicides.
13 parishioners committed suicide during the year, 4 by hanging, 4 by poison, 3 by
cutting the throat, and 2 by drowning.
NOTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
In Table III. of Appendix will be found full particulars of the diseases notified in
Bermondsey during the year 1902, divided into districts and age periods. The total number notified
during the year in question was 2,227, against 1,686 in the previous year. This large increase
was due to the compulsory notification of chicken pox, so that, if the 912 cases due to this cause
were subtracted, it would leave a total of 1,315, which is a diminution of 371 from the previous
year's figures, notwithstanding the prevalence of small- pox. This immunity from infectious
disease may be mainly attributed to the greatly diminished numbers of diphtheria and scarlet
fever cases. Of the former disease there were 277 cases against 329 in 1901, and in the latter, 491
cases against 932. There was also a considerable diminution in the cases of enteric fever, the
number being 150 in 1901, and 125 in 1902.
The number of notifications per thousand inhabitants was 17.5 for Bermondsey, 16.4 for
Rotherhithe, and 18.2 for St. Olave's, and, though a considerable number of cases were returned
as not suffering from the disease notified, I may reiterate the opinion I expressed in last year's
Report, that, taking into account a certain number of unrecognised cases not notified, and
putting them against the ones wrongly notified, the present notifications will probably fairly
represent the actual number which occurred in the district.
Small-pox.
219 cases of this disease were notified during 1902. 24 were returned as not suffering
from that disease, leaving 195 actual cases. The following are particulars as to vaccination,
with the number of deaths: —
9