Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Report on the vital statistics and the work of the Public Health Department for the years 1914-18 (inclusive)
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Locale of New Growth | Totals. | Index Numbers. | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1909-13. | 1914-18. | 1914-18. | ||||||||||||
M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | P. | ||||||||
Nervous System | 7 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 57 | 20 | 12 | 25 | 33 |
Organs of Special Sense | ... | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 67 | ||||||||
Respiratory System | 25 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 60 | 40 | 57 | |||||||
Circulatory System | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ||||||||
Digestive System | 242 | 221 | 259 | 270 | 107 | 122 | 114 | |||||||
Lymphatic System | 15 | 5 | 20 | 15 | 133 | 300 | 175 | |||||||
Urinary System | 25 | 14 | 38 | 14 | 152 | 100 | 133 | |||||||
Generative System | 3 | 221 | 5 | 283 | 167 | 128 | 128 | |||||||
Osseous System | 17 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 47 | 70 | 59 | |||||||
Cutaneous System | 4 | 2 | 13 | 9 | 325 | 450 | 367 | |||||||
Not sufficiently described | 5 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 200 | 100 | 136 |
Note—A more complete analysis is given in Table VII., Appendix.
The only parts of the body in which new growths were less frequently reported were
the nervous system and organs of special sense—practically one system—when the reduction
amounted to 67 per cent (both sexes), 43 per cent, males and 88 per cent. females, the
respiratory and osseous systems. Without an examination, for which time is not available,
it is impossible to account for the increases noted in the urinarv and cutaneous systems of
males.
Influenza.—Of the f)09 deaths from this cause during 1914-18, no fewer than 358
occurred during 1918. For the other four years of the quinquennium, the annual average of
deaths was 38, but in 1915 52 deaths were ascribed to this cause The 358 deaths—or the
excess (318) of (say) 40, the approximate annual average for non-epidemic years—does not
represent the complete toll taken by influenza in 1918. The rule of the Department is to
place every death in the certificate of cause of which "influenza" (even as a secondary
cause) is mentioned under that disease. Consequently it can onlv be surmised which
increases in the average numbers of deaths should be attributed to influenza as a
primary cause of death not appearing in the certificates.
Respiratory Diseases.-The deaths from the three "pneumonia" headings—lobular and
lobar pneumonias and "pneumonia " (undefined)—during the last ten years have numbered—
1909, HO; 1910,142; 1911,114; 1912,135; 1913,155.
1914,112; 1915,200; 1916,139; 1917,162; 1918,221.
the annual averages being for 1909-13, 139 and for 1914-18, 167.
Inquests.
Of the 10,360 deaths occurring during 1914-18, 1,039 formed subjects of inquest, equal
to 10 per cent. of the total During the five years, 1909-13, the percentage of deaths
registered after inquests held was S'4. The numbers of inquests held during each of the last
five years, distributed according to sexes and "findings," are shown in Table VIII.,
Appendix. A comparison of the "findings" during the two quinquennial periods is given
below.
Findings of Inquests.
Totals— | Natural Causes. | Misadventure. | Accidental Causes. | Suicide. | Murder. Manslaughter. | Open. | "Neglect." |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1909-13 | 368 | 52 | 228 | 78 | 9(a) | 27 | 29 |
1914-18 | 438 | 36 | 371(b) | 77 | 10 | 64 | 43 |
Annual Averages— | |||||||
1909-13 | 74 | 10 | 46 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
1914-18 | 88 | 7 | 74 | 15 | 2 | 13 | 9 |
Index Numbers— | |||||||
1914-18 | 111 | 69 | 162 | 99 | 111 | 237 | 148 |
(а) Including one death by manslaughter.
(b) „ 19 deaths from bombs -3, in 1917 ; 16, in 1918.
In 1909 there were two deaths by execution.
The Index Number (1914-18) for all inquests was 131. Excluding the deaths due to
bombs, the annual average (Accidental Causes) for 1914-18 was 70 and the Index Number, 154.
The increase in open findings (137 per cent.) is remarkable, while the decrease in deaths
by suicide (although only 1 per cent.) is unexpected.