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
Fulham 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Fulham Borough]
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15
CAUSES OF DEATH.
These are classified in Table 6 pages 21/22. The following table shows the number of deaths from the six commonest causes.
| Disease | No. of Persons | Males. | Females. | Percentage of total deaths | Death Rate per 1,000 inhabitants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heart Disease | 479 | 215 | 264 | 28.82 | 3.34 |
| Cancer | 218 | 103 | 115 | 13.12 | 1.52 |
| Respiratory diseases | 148 | 78 | 70 | 8.97 | 1.04 |
| Tuberculosis (all forms) | 129 | 73 | 56 | 7.76 | 0.89 |
| Cerebral hæmorrhage | 72 | 36 | 36 | 4.33 | 0.50 |
| Chronic and acute nephritis | 49 | 26 | 23 | 2.95 | 034 |
| TOTALS | 1,095 | 531 | 564 | 65.95 | 7.63 |
It will be seen that heart disease, as in the last 6 years, heads the list; 479 deaths were
due to this cause compared with 498 in 1934. The sex distribution of these deaths was 215
males and 264 females. Of the total no less than 420 occurred in persons over the age of
55 years.
Cancer came next as in the last 2 years with 218 deaths, a decrease of 52 on the previous
year. 166 of these deaths were in persons over 55.
Pneumonia, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases together caused 148 deaths. The
age distribution is less marked in this disease, deaths taking place in every age group, though
with a preponderance in the groups aged 45 and over.
Tuberculosis caused 129 deaths of which 112 (67 males and 45 females) were from
pulmonary tuberculosis. The death rate from pulmonary tuberculosis is 0.78 as against the
national rate of 0.61. The prevention of this disease depends in the main upon good nutrition
and good environmental conditions, the cure upon early diagnosis. The steady year by year
fall in mortality from this cause is one of the most satisfactory achievements of public health
and social work.
Cerebral hæmorrhage is again a disease of the elderly, only 4 of the 72 deaths occurring
under the age of 55.
Influenza caused 24 deaths compared with 17 in 1934.