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
St Pancras 1919
Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1919
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55
CANCER.
245 deaths were registered during 1919 as due to cancer, under the various
names of cancer, carcinoma, epithelioma, scirrhus, sarcoma, &c.
This is equal to a death-rate of 1.07 per 1,000 population, and 112 per
1,000 civil population.
The sex distribution of the deaths and death-rates is shown in the following table:—
| Sex. | No. of Deaths. | Death-rates per 1,000 males or females living (based on 1911 Census). |
|---|---|---|
| Males | 114 | 1.07 |
| Females | 131 | 1.17 |
| Both Sexes | 245 | 1.12 |
Section V—MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The statistics for the year in regard to births and deaths of infants will be
found on pages 12, 13, 15 and 16 of this Report. The notifications of births
received in 1919 numbered 4,053, including 3918 live births, a.s compared with
3824 births registered. Details in regard to the notifications will be found on
page 62.
The Borough Council have charge of all matters relating to maternity and
children under school age with the exception of (1) tbe inspection of midwives
and other activities of the supervising authority under the Midwives Acts;
(2) the supervision of boarded-out Children under the Children Act.; and (3)
the licensing and inspection of Lying-in Homes. These matters are dealt with
by the London County Council, and there is consequently a division of executive
responsibility between the two Authorities in regard to Maternity and Child
Welfare to this extent.
The outstanding characteristic of the St. Pancras Maternity and Child
Welfare Scheme is the satisfactory fusion of the activities of the municipal and
the voluntary elements. Until 1918 the official work of the Council had been
confined to the administration of the Notification of Births Act, and the
appointment of some four Health Visitors working from the Town Hall.
Maternity and Child Welfare Centres had, however, been instituted and
maintained by voluntary funds, and though the money was not derived from
the rates the work was very largely guided by the Medical Officer of Health
and his staff. Several of the Centres were in fact founded on his suggestions.
In 1907 the St. Pancras School for Mothers was opened in Somers Town,
largely owing to the influence of the late Dr. Sykes, then Medical Officer of
Health, and was the prototype of tbe Centres which have since sprung up
throughout the country. This was followed in 1912 by the North St. Pancras