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
Kensington 1924
The annual report on the health of the Borough for the year1924
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Measles ceased to be compulsorily notifiable in December, 1919, but the Head Teachers of
the London County Council schools report to Medical Officers of Health all cases, both of children
suffering from measles and of children kept away from school by reason of the disease existing in
their homes.
In view of the dangerous complications which are liable to follow neglected cases of measles,
the Women Health Officers pay a great deal of attention to children suffering from this disease in
the poorer quarters of the Borough. Five hundred and ninety.three visits to cases of measles
were paid by these officers during the year.
The number of cases admitted to hospital was 325.
Whooping Cough.—There were 20 deaths from this cause, all the children dying being
under the age of 5 years. The deaths in the three preceding years were 22, 27 and 23. The
Women Health Officers paid 151 visits to cases of this disease during the year.
Cancer.—Cancer caused 293 deaths, and of this number 263 occurred in persons over the age
of 45 years. Carcinoma was the form of cancer to which 239 deaths were attributed; sarcoma
and epithelioma were the assigned cause of 21 deaths; 33 deaths were certified as due to cancer
or malignant disease without further definition.
The parts of the body which were affected in each case are shown in the following table:—
| Parts Affected. | Sex. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male. | Female. | ||
| Buccal Cavity | 16 | 2 | 18 |
| Stomach, Liver, etc. | 45 | 42 | 87 |
| Peritoneum, Intestines, Rectum ... | 17 | 32 | 49 |
| Female Genital Organs | • • • | 42 | 42 |
| Breast | • • • | 32 | 32 |
| Skin | 1 | • • • | 1 |
| Other and unspecified Organs | 39 | 25 | 64 |
| Totals | 118 | 175 | 293 |
The deaths in the several wards, etc., are set out in the following table:—
| The Borough | 293 |
| North Kensington | 135 |
| South Kensington | 157 |
| Wards. | |
| St. Charles | 27 |
| Golborne | 28 |
| Norland | 44 |
| Pembridge | 36 |
| Holland | 35 |
| Earl's Court | 41 |
| Queen's Gate | 26 |
| Redcliffe | 35 |
| Brompton | 20 |
| Ward Unknown | 1 |
The deaths from cancer are gradually growing in number, not only in Kensington, but throughout
the whole country, and this disease, with the exception of affections of the heart, is now the
commonest cause of death.
TUBERCULOSIS.
During the year 236 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and 78 cases of non-pulmonary
tuberculosis were notified.
The following Table shows the number of cases of both forms of the disease notified in the
Borough and the several Wards therein during each year since 1914.