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Malignant Disease, Cancer, was accountable for 155 deaths; 113 in the Town sub-district and
42 in Brompton. Carcinoma was the registered cause in 55 cases, Sarcoma in 11, and Malignant
Disease, Cancer, in 89. Cancer would appear to be on the increase in the country generally;
possibly, however, some portion of the apparent increase in the number of deaths classified to this
cause, may be due to greater accuracy in diagnosis. The deaths in Kensington in the ten
preceding years were 129, 140, 143, 136, 173, 168, 193, 169, 152, and 185 respectively. The deaths
in 1902 were equal to 8.73 per ten thousand living and to 5.6 per cent. of all deaths
registered.
Deaths from Malignant Disease are usually more numerous proportionately to population,
in the Brompton sub-district than in the relatively poorer Town sub-district, Cancer being quite
as prevalent, probably more prevalent, amongst well-to-do people, than in the poorer classes. The
parts of the body most commonly affected are the viscera or internal organs ; in women, the uterus
and the breast; the disease, moreover, being for the most part one of later life. Thus 124 of the
deaths took place at ages above forty-five, and 20 between thirty-five and forty-five years.
In London, as a whole, the deaths from Malignant Disease, Cancer, in 53 weeks, were 4,630,
and 608 above the corrected decennial average.
Premature Birth was the cause of 81 deaths, 70 in the Town sub-district and 11 in Brompton;
Old Age of 116 ; 92 and 24 in the two sub-districts respectively: including 19 between 65 and 75
years, 63 between 75 and 85, and 33 at 85 years and upwards.
LOCAL DISEASES.
Nervous System. The Deaths from the diseases of this system were 146; 105 in the Town
sub-district and 41 in Brompton—as compared with 291, 257, and 246, in the three preceding
years—41 of them occurred under five years of age. Thirty-one of the deaths were due to
Convulsions (an objectionable term), and 39 to diseases which, not being named specifically in the
"New List," are classified to "Other Diseases" of the System.
The number of deaths from the several "other diseases" are set out in Table VIII, page 135.
Circulatory System. The deaths from Diseases of the Heart were 251; 187 in the Town
sub-district and 64 in Brompton—as compared with 256, 227, and 236, in the three preceding years
—3 of them under five years of age. The larger number of the deaths, 123, were registered from
"Syncope, Heart Disease (not specified)." Valvular Disease was accountable for 69 deaths, Angina
Pectoris for 13, Dilatation of Heart, 18, and Fatty Degeneration, 21.
Diseases of Blood Vessels were the causes of 160 deaths, 127 in the Town sub-district and 33
in Brompton, including 66 from Cerebral Hemorrhage, Embolism, Thrombosis; and 65 from
Apoplexy, Hemiplegia, diseases which generally connote cerebral hemorrhage.
Respiratory System. The diseases of the Respiratory Organs (phthisis being excluded), were
accountable for 626 deaths, 538 in the Town sub-district and 88 in Brompton—as compared with
672, 542, and 511, in the three preceding years. The principal causes were Bronchitis 297 deaths,
and Pneumonia, in one or other of its forms, 172 deaths. The deaths under five years of age were
199, or 31.8 per cent. of the total number, as compared with 27.2, 31.5, and 32.9 per cent. in the
three preceding years; and at 55 and upwards 281, or 44.9 per cent. against 47.5, 47.9, and 44.2 in
the three preceding years. Bronchitis and Pneumonia were accountable for 469 deaths (including
187 under five years of age), of which 70 were registered in the Brompton sub-district.
Digestive System. The diseases of the Digestive System were accountable for 161 deaths;
130 and 31 in the Town and Brompton sub-districts respectively; 45 of them under five years of
age. The chief causes were Cirrhosis of the Liver 44 deaths, Other Diseases of the Liver and Gall
Bladder 16 deaths, Intestinal Obstruction 19 deaths, and Enteritis 17 deaths.
Urinary System. Eighty-one deaths were due to diseases of the urinary system: 67 and 14
in the Town and Brompton sub-districts respectively; Chronic Bright's Disease (Albuminuria),
being the cause of 39 deaths, Nephritis (Acute) of 20, and Bladder and Prostate Disease of 14.
DEATHS FROM VIOLENCE.
Eighty-two deaths, including 27 under five years of age, and 14 under one year, were caused
by violence : 66 belong to the Town sub-district, 16 to Brompton.
Accident or Negligence occasioned 65 deaths: 58 in the Town sub-district, 7 in Brompton:
25 of them under five years of age, and 12 under one year. Fractures and Contusions were
responsible for 36 deaths, Burn, Scald for 8, and Suffocation for 14—of which 9 were of infants
under one year.