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
Chelsea 1923
Annual report for 1923 of the Medical Officer of Health
This page requires JavaScript
Cancer. The following Table shows the annual average of deaths from all causes, tuberculosis, and cancer in Chelsea in 6 quinquennial periods from 1891, and also in 1921, 1922 and 1923:—
| Period. | All Causes. | monary. | Tuberculosis. Non- Pulmonary. | Total. | Cancer. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1891-5 | 1550 | 151 | 59 | 210 | 65 |
| 1896-1900 | 1107 | 144 | 40 | 184 | 73 |
| 1901-5 | 1207 | 120 | 30 | 150 | 78 |
| 1906-10 | 1086 | 105 | 28 | 133 | 79 |
| 1911-15 | 975 | 86 | 21 | 107 | 24 |
| 1916-20 | 935 | 75 | 18 | 93 | 85 |
| 1921 | 862 | 58 | 12 | 70 | 112 |
| 1922 | 853 | 51 | 9 | 60 | 105 |
| 1923 | 788 | 52 | 5 | 57 | 117 |
The deaths from cancer have increased cosiderably during the past 3 years, the total numbers for this period being 334.The following Table shows the different classes affected:-
| Professional and Independent. | Trading and Clerical. | Domestic Servants. | Other Working Glass. | Royal Hospital Pensioners. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63 | 51 | 22 | 169 | 29 | 334 |
The following Table shows the ages at death amongst males and females:—
| 20-30 | 30-40 | 40-50 | 50-60 | 60-70 | 70-80 | 80-90 | Total. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | 1 | 3 | 5 | 27 | 53 | 42 | 10 | 141 | 834 |
| Females | 2 | 3 | 23 | 39 | 51 | 51 | 24 | 193 | |
The average annual Cancer death-rate for the 3 years, 1921-3, is
Males, 1·8 per 1000; females, 1·7 per 1000. Amongst males 94 per
cent. of the deaths occurred at ages at ages over 50,whilst in females 86 per
cent. of the deaths were of women over 50 years.
The following Table shows the chief organs affected in the fatal cases occurring in males and females in the 3 years. 1921-2-3:—
| Males. | Females. | Persons. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Œsophagus | 16 | – | 16 |
| Stomach | 18 | 31 | 44 |
| Liver | 16 | 14 | 30 |
| Pancreas | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| Intestines | 11 | 23 | 34 |
| Rectum | 19 | 20 | 39 |
| Kidney | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Bladder. | 11 | 5 | 16 |
| Tongue | 9 | – | 9 |
| Larynx | 9 | 2 | 11 |
| Breast | – | 42 | 42 |
| Uterus | – | 27 | 27 |
| Other organs | 29 | 26 | 55 |
| 141 | 193 | 334 |