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 1924
Report for the year 1924 of the Medical Officer of Health
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The number of deaths from Cancer according to age-periods in recent years are as follows : —
| Year. | Total. | Under 25 | 25 and under 45. | 45 and under 65. | 65 and upwards. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1906 | 93 | — | 9 | 40 | 44 |
| 1907 | 69 | 1 | 8 | 32 | 28 |
| 1908 | 84 | — | 6 | 41 | 37 |
| 1909 | 85 | 1 | 12 | 39 | 33 |
| 1910 | 90 | l | 8 | 39 | 42 |
| 1911 | 86 | — | 8 | 44 | 34 |
| 1912 | 102 | — | 6 | 48 | 48 |
| 1913 | 100 | 3 | 8 | 46 | 43 |
| 1914 | 114 | — | 9 | 63 | 42 |
| 1915 | 118 | 2 | 9 | 61 | 46 |
| 1916 | 113 | 1 | 12 | 47 | 53 |
| 1917 | 107 | 1 | 8 | 58 | 40 |
| 1918 | 105 | 1 | 12 | 46 | 46 |
| 1919 | 123 | — | 12 | 59 | 52 |
| 1920 | 120 | 1 | 9 | 57 | 53 |
| 1921 | 134 | — | 12 | 62 | 60 |
| 1922 | 135 | — | 9 | 74 | 52 |
| 1923 | 158 | 3 | 13 | 67 | 75 |
| 1924 | 151 | 1 | 10 | 69 | 71 |
The important Memorandum and Circular No. 426, issued by the
Ministry of Health in 1923, was supplemented during the year by two
valuable Circulars and Memoranda. Circular No. 476, with Memorandum
No. II., was issued on 6th March, and related to the effects of
radium and X-rays upon normal and cancerous tissues. In this
Circular it was stated that the Departmental Committee on Cancer had
considered it essential to obtain reviews which summarised and
brought into focus the position of modern knowledge and practice in
regard to different aspects of Cancer, its causation, prevention and
treatment; and that they were obtaining these reviews by the work of
their own members, by special sub-committees, and in other ways as
the case required, drawing freely in the process on the assistance of
physicians, surgeons, pathologists and other experts, whose invaluable
aid they gratefully acknowledged.
In pursuance of this policy, with Circular No. 496, dated
19th May, Memo. No. III. was issued, relating to Cancer of the
breast and the results of surgical operation in connection with this
condition. This Memo, reviews the general position at which surgery
has arrived in the case of this form of Cancer, and states certain facts
which the public should recognise if operative treatment is to yield the
success which, in favourable circumstances and under modern conditions,
it is capable of yielding.