London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Battersea 1908
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1908
This page requires JavaScript
123
Taking the average annual number of deaths for the ten years
1898-1907, viz., 143.4, as compared with 156 deaths during 1908,
there would appear to be an increase in the mortality from this
disease during the decennium. This may to some extent, at least,
be due to improved methods of diagnosis and certification.
In the following table the anatomical distribution of the disease in both sexes is shown:—
| Situation. | Males. | Females | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mouth and Jaw | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| Tongue | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| Stomach and (Esophagus | 24 | 13 | 37 |
| Liver | 6 | 8 | 14 |
| Bowels | 7 | 10 | 17 |
| Rectum | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| Breast | — | 15 | 15 |
| Chest | — | — | — |
| Uterus | — | 20 | 20 |
| Ovary | — | 1 | 1 |
| Abdomen | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Other situations | 13 | 14 | 27 |
| Totals | 69 | 87 | 156 |
Alcoholism.
During 1908, in the Borough of Battersea, 3 deaths were
registered from acute and chronic alcoholism (males 2, females 1).
In addition to these, 22 deaths were registered from cirrhosis of
the liver (males 8, females 14), a disease mainly due to alcohol.
The total number of deaths, therefore, to be ascribed to
alcohol is 25, as compared with 27 in 1907 and 20 in 1906. This