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7
Influenza.—The number of deaths attributed to influenza in 1907
was 20, as against 16 in 1906. Nine deaths occurred in North Chelsea,
and 11 in South Chelsea. Twelve of the fatal cases were of persons
aged 65 and upwards. In London generally the disease showed a
similar prevalence to that of 1906, 907 deaths occurring in 1907, as
against 897 in 1906. Of the fatal cases in London in 1907, 605 occurred
in the first quarter of the year, 161 in the second quarter, 58 in the
third quarter, and 143 in the fourth quarter.
Respiratory Diseases.—The death-rate from these diseases in
Chelsea in 1907 was 2 87 per 1000, as against 3'06 per 1000 in 1906.
The London death-rate from respiratory diseases in 1907 was 3 06
per 1000.
Tubercular Diseases.—The death-rate from phthisis and other
tubercular diseases in Chelsea in 1907 was 193 per 1000, as against
2 03 per 1000 in 1906. The death-rate in London from these diseases
in 1907 was 1.97 per 1000. Of the 110 deaths from phthisis in Chelsea
in 1907, 54, or 49 per cent. occurred in the Chelsea Workhouse
Infirmary, and 24, or 22 per cent. in other public institutions, making a
total of 71 per cent. of the cases dying in public institutions away from
their own homes. The average for the 7 years, 1900-1906, is 43 4 per
cent. in the Chelsea Infirmary, and 12 7 per cent. in other public
institutions, making a total of 56.1 per cent. of the cases dying away
from their homes in public institutions. There is, therefore, a notable
increase during the past year of institutional deaths in this disease;
and this fact appears to point to the spread of knowledge as to the
possible infectivity of the later stages of phthisis, with the result that
sufferers from this disease in its later manifestations, especially amongst
the poor, are more ready to seek institutional relief than was formerly
the case.
Cancer.—Malignant cancerous diseases caused 76 deaths in Chelsea
in 1907, the average of the past 16 years being 73 deaths annually.
Forty-two of the cancer deaths were of North Chelsea residents, and
34 of South Chelsea residents.
Alcholism.—Twenty-one deaths were registered in 1907 as being
due to intemperance or cirrhosis of the liver, as against 25 in 1906.
These annual figures merely represent the deaths which are palpably
and unmistakeably the results of alcoholic excess, and take no account
of the far larger numbers which are indirectly due to prolonged and
excessive indulgence.
Deaths in Lunatic Asylums.—Thirty-four deaths of Chelsea
parishioners occurred in 1907 in lunatic asylums. The average of the
16 years, 1891-1906, is 33 deaths annually in lunatic asylums.
Deaths in Public Institutions.—In 1907, 47.3 per cent. of the
total deaths of parishioners of Chelsea occurred in public institutions,
as compared with 47.4 per cent. in 1906. In London generally, 39.8
per cent. of the total deaths occurred in public institutions in 1907.
The deaths in the Chelsea Infirmary in 1907 formed 25.3 per cent. of