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
Hampstead 1923
Report for the year 1923 of the Medical Officer of Health
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16
Cancer.
The following Table gives the number of deaths from Cancer in each of the years 1914—1923:—
| Year. | No. of Deaths from Cancer. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1914 | – | 114 |
| 1915 | – | 118 |
| 1916 | – | 113 |
| 1917 | – | 107 |
| 1918 | – | 105 |
| 1919 | – | 123 |
| 1920 | – | 120 |
| 1921 | – | 134 |
| 1922 | – | 135 |
| 1923 | – | 158 |
Of the fatal cases, 97 were females and 61 males. In 75
cases the persons were over 65 years of age. On this point it
must be borne in mind that the population of the Borough was found
at the census of 1921 to consist of 52,900 females and 33,253 males.
The anatomical distribution of the deaths in each sex was as follows:—
| Situation. | Males. | Females. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oesophagus | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Stomach | 14 | 6 | 20 |
| Liver and Gall Bladder | 4 | 7 | 11 |
| Intestines | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Rectum | 10 | 20 | 30 |
| Uterus | – | 12 | 12 |
| Breast | – | 18 | 18 |
| Ovary | – | 5 | 5 |
| Other organs | 26 | 19 | 45 |
| Totals | 61 | 97 | 158 |
In view of the great and increasing amount of suffering and
death due to this disease and the public concern at its prevalence, the
Ministry of Health on 14th August, 1923, issued a very interesting
and important Memorandum on the subject of Cancer. This
Memorandum was drafted by the Departmental Committee on Cancer,
appointed by the Minister of Health, who has also directed the medical
intelligence service of the Ministry to keep in touch with developments
of Cancer investigation. The Ministry also undertakes the prosecution
of researches of an epidemiological and statistical character, both at
home and internationally, in regard to Cancer. The Memorandum