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 1926

The annual report on the health of the Borough for the year1926

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Table: The following table shows the zymotic death rate for London and Kensington in each ol the last five years.

The following table shows the zymotic death rate for London and Kensington in each ol the last five years.

Deaths from Principal Zymotic Diseases per 1000 persons living.
Period.Kensington.London.
19220.971.11
19230.690.60
19240.800.73
19250.460.59
19260.610.63

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Cancer.—Cancer caused 344 deaths, and of this number 320 occurred in persons over (the age
of 45 years. Carcinoma was the form of cancer to which 263 deaths were attributed; sarcoma
and epithelioma were the assigned cause of 29 deaths; 52 deaths were certified as due to cancer
or malignant disease without further definition.

Table: The parts of the body which were affected in each case are shown in the following table DEATHS FROM CANCER, 1926.

The parts of the body which were affected in each case are shown in the following table DEATHS FROM CANCER, 1926.

Parts Affected.Sex.Total.
Male.Female.
Buccal Cavity12214
Stomach, Liver, etc.393877
Peritoneum, Intestines, Rectum325082
Female Genital Organs...3939
Breast...4242
Skin112
Other and unspecified Organs414788
Totals125219344

Table: The deaths in the several wards, etc., are set out in the following table:—

The deaths in the several wards, etc., are set out in the following table:—

The Borough344
North Kensington147
South Kensington194
Wards.
St. Charles35
Golborne29
Norland46
Pembridge37
Holland55
Earl's Court48
Queen's Gate18
Redcliffe47
Brompton26
Ward Unknown3

Table: Making every allowance for improved diagnostic methods and other factors, there can be no doubt that the death rate from cancer is steadily increasing. The number of deaths from this disease in Kensington in each year from 1902 to 1906 and in each of the last five years is as follows:—

Making every allowance for improved diagnostic methods and other factors, there can be no doubt that the death rate from cancer is steadily increasing. The number of deaths from this disease in Kensington in each year from 1902 to 1906 and in each of the last five years is as follows:—

Year.No. of Deaths.Year.No. of Deaths
19021551922261
19031871923269
19041741924293
19051721925315
19061711926344

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These figures reveal the importance of discovering the cause and cure for this disease. With
the exception of heart disease, cancer has recently been responsible for more deaths in Kensington
than any other malady.
Heart Disease.—Heart disease is still the commonest cause of death, and last year 387 persons
died from this complaint, this number being 13 in excess of the figure for 1925.
It has been estimated that probably about half the deaths from heart disease result from
rheumatic fever contracted in the early years of life. This malady, which is common in children,.