London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Bermondsey 1913
Report on the sanitary condition of the Borough of Bermondsey for the year 1913
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18
Phthisis.
In Table J will be found particulars of deaths from phthisis since
the year 1903. There were 201 deaths due to this cause, which is
11 less than the number recorded in the previous year.
TABLE J.—PHTHISIS.
| Sub-District | Bermondsey. | Rotherhithe | St. Olave. | Whole Borough | London. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year. | No. | Rate. | No. | Rate. | No. | Rate. | No. | Rate. | No. | Rate. |
| 1903 | 147 | 1.79 | 56 | 1.46 | 18 | 1.96 | 221 | 1.70 | 7124 | 1.54 |
| 1904 | 165 | 2.02 | 60 | 1.57 | 31 | 3.48 | 257 | 1.99 | 7526 | 1.62 |
| 1905 | 148 | 1.81 | 55 | 1.44 | 20 | 2.32 | 223 | 1.73 | 6622 | 1.42 |
| 1906 | 155 | 1.90 | 77 | 2.01 | 18 | 2.16 | 250 | 1.95 | 6775 | 1.44 |
| 1907 | 150 | 1.84 | 68 | 1.78 | 19 | 2.36 | 237 | 1.85 | 6654 | 1.40 |
| 1908 | 157 | 1.89 | 60 | 1.54 | 24 | 3.03 | 241 | 1.85 | 6419 | 1.32 |
| 1909 | 147 | 1.80 | 56 | 1.46 | 17 | 2.27 | 220 | 1.73 | 6337 | 1.31 |
| 1910 | 148 | 1.82 | 50 | 1.31 | 21 | 2.91 | 219 | 1.73 | 5555 | 1.14 |
| 1911 | 141 | 1.72 | 52 | 1.48 | 18 | 2.08 | 211 | 1.68 | 6084 | 1.35 |
| 1912 | 138 | 1.69 | 1.68 | 57 | 1.64 | 17 | 1.98 | 212 | 6069 | 1.35 |
| Averages for years 1903-1912 | 150 | 1.83 | 59 | 1.57 | 20 | 2.46 | 229 | 1.79 | 6517 | 1.39 |
| 1913 | 125 | 1.53 | 64 | 1.86 | 12 | 1.42 | 201 | 1.61 | 5981 | 1.30 |
The phthisis death rate is the lowest since the formation of the
Borough and this is part of the steady fall which is taking place
all over the country in this disease. There are two causes at work
to produce this, first the immunity which is being acquired owing to
the gradual elimination of unhealthy stocks, and second the various
sanitary measures which have been recently put in force. How much
is due to each it is impossible to say.
Alcoholism and Cirrhosis of the Liver.
22 deaths were attributed to this cause in 1913, against 20 in
1912. This number gives a very small idea of the deaths caused
by these diseases, since they are often the remote causes of death,
and are not always mentioned on the certificate for various reasons.