London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Paddington 1914

Report on the vital statistics and the work of the Public Health Department for the years 1914-18 (inclusive)

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Z inquests."Cancer."

Locale of New GrowthTotals.Index Numbers.
1909-13.1914-18.1914-18.
M.F.M.F.M.F.P.
Nervous System77582411285720122533
Organs of Special Sense...32...2067
Respiratory System255152604057
Circulatory System.....................
Digestive System242221259270107122114
Lymphatic System1552015133300175
Urinary System25143814152100133
Generative System32215283167128128
Osseous System1720814477059
Cutaneous System42139325450367
Not sufficiently described59109200100136

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."
1909-1336852228789(a)2729
1914-1843836371(b)77106443
Annual Averages—
1909-1374104615256
1914-1888774152139
Index Numbers—
1914-181116916299111237148

(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.