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Alcoholism, Delirium Tremens, was the cause of 11 deaths, five in the Kensington Town
sub-district, and 6 in Brompton. The deaths in London, as a whole, were 576. It is scarcely
necessary, perhaps, to remark that if all the deaths due, directly or indirectly, to the immoderate use
of intoxicating liquors were correctly certified, alcoholism would occupy a more prominent position
in the bills of mortality; but many deaths due to the misuse of alcohol get certified, and are
necessarily classified, to visceral and degenerative diseases caused or aggravated by drink.
Rheumatic Fever, Acute Rheumatism, was the cause of 3 deaths, all of them in the Town
sub-district.
Malignant Disease, Cancer, was accountable for 174 deaths; 131 in the Town sub-district
and 43 in Brompton. Carcinoma was the registered cause in 80 cases, Sarcoma in 11, and Malignant
Disease, Cancer, in 83. 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 143, 136, 173, 168, 193, 169, 152, 185, 155, and 187, respectively. The deaths in 1904
were equal to 9•7 per ten thousand living, and to 6•9 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 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 148 of the deaths took place at ages above
forty-five, and 18 between thirty-five and forty-five years.
In London, as a whole, the deaths from Malignant Disease, Cancer, were 4,636, and 544
above the decennial average.
Premature Birth was the cause of 71 deaths, 59 in the Town sub-district and 12 in
Brompton; Old Age (Senile decay) of 82, 66 and 16, in the two sub-districts respectively; including
12 between 65 and 75 years, 40 between 75 and 85, and 29 at 85 years and upwards.
LOCAL DISEASES.
Nervous System.—The deaths from the diseases of this system were 108; 84 in the Town
sub-district and 24 in Brompton—as compared with 246, 146, and 123, in the three preceding years
—37 of them occurred under five years of age. Twenty-four of the deaths were due to Convulsions
(an objectionable term), and 25 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 100.
Circulatory System.—The deaths from Diseases of the Heart were 212; 155 in the Town subdistrict
and 57 in Brompton—as compared with 236, 251 and 196, in the three preceding years.
The larger number of the deaths, 110, were registered from "Syncope, Heart Disease (not specified).*
Valvular Disease was accountable for 68 deaths, Angina Pectoris for 11, Dilatation of Heart tor 9, and
Fatty Degeneration for 9.
Diseases of Blood Vessels were the causes of 149 deaths; 117 in the Town sub-district and 32
in Brompton, including 83 from Cerebral Hemorrhage, Embolism, Thrombosis; and 41 from Apoplexy,
Hemiplegia, conditions which generally connote cerebral hemorrhage.
Respiratory System.—The diseases of the Respiratory organs (phthisis being excluded), were
accountable for 516 deaths; 428 in the Town sub-district and 88 in Brompton—as compared with
511, 626, and 482, in the three preceding years. The principal causes were Bronchitis 256 deaths,
and Pneumonia, in one or other of its forms, 197 deaths. The deaths under five years of age were
158, or 30.6 per cent, of the total number, as compared with 32 9, 318, and 381, per cent, in the
three preceding years; and at 55 and upwards 247, or 47•9 per cent., against 44•2, 44•9, and 43•1 in
the three preceding years. Bronchitis and Pneumonia were accountable for 453 deaths (including
153 under five years of age), of which 72 were registered in the Brompton sub-district.
Digestive System.—The diseases of the Digestive System were accountable for 184 deaths;
142 and 42 in the Town and Brompton sub-districts, respectively; 40 of them under five years of
age. The chief causes were Cirrhosis of the Liver 31 deaths, Other Diseases of the Liver and Gall
Bladder 25 deaths, Intestinal Obstruction 16, Enteritis 22, Gastric Ulcer 16, and Appendicitis 16.
Urinary System.—Ninety-four deaths were due to diseases of the urinary system; 71 and
23 in the Town and Brompton sub-districts respectively; Chronic Bright's Disease (Albuminuria),
being the cause of 59 deaths, Nephritis (Acute), of 6, Bladder and Prostate Disease of 9, and Other
Diseases of the Urinary System, 18.
* A considerable number of deaths are certified as due to "Failure of the Heart," in persons dying in old age. These
deaths are classified to " Old Age " in Table viii., page 100.