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The deaths from Tubercular Diseases in London, as a whole, were 9,311; 6,857 of them
were due to Phthisis, the death-rate being 1.40 per 1,000 persons living, against 1.62, 1.42, and
1.44 in the preceding three years, and a quinquennial average of 1.53. Phthisis mortality ranged
from 0.70 per 1,000 persons living in Hampstead, 0.93 in Lewisham, 0.94 in Stoke Newington,
0.95 in Wandsworth, to 2.02 in the City of London, 2.03 in Southwark, 2.10 in Shoreditch, 2.33 in
Finsbury, and 2.58 in Holborn.
The Registrar-General states that in no fewer than 21 boroughs the rates in the metropolitan
boroughs were below the average rates recorded in the preceding five years.
Alcoholism, Delirium Tremens, was the cause 12 deaths; eight in the Town sub-district
and 4 in Brompton. The deaths in London, as a whole, were 501. It is probable that if all
the deaths due, directly or indirectly, to the immoderate use of intoxicating liquors were
correctly certified, alcoholism would occupy a more prominent position in the bills of mortality;
many deaths due to the misuse of alcohol are certified, and necessarily classified, to visceral and
degenerative diseases caused or aggravated by drink.
Rheumatic Fever, Acute Rheumatism, was the cause of 6 deaths, five of them in the Town
sub-district.
Malignant Disease, Cancer, was accountable for 201 deaths; 152 in the Town sub-district
and 49 in Brompton. Carcinoma was the registered cause in 100 cases, Sarcoma in 9, and Malignant
Disease, Cancer, in 92. Cancer would appear to be on the increase in the country generally;
possibly, however, some portion of the apparent increase in the number of deaths may be
due to greater accuracy in diagnosis. The deaths in Kensington in the preceding
ten years were 168, 193, 169, 152, 185, 155, 187, 174, 172, and 171 respectively. The deaths in
1907 were equal to 11T per ten thousand of the population, and to 8.1 per cent, of all deaths
registered. Deaths from Malignant Disease are usually more numerous, proportionately to population,
in the Brompton sub-district than in the Town sub-district, cancer being quite as prevalent,
probably more so amongst well-to-do people than in the poorer classes. The parts
of the body most commonly affected are the viscera or internal organs; in women, the uterus and
the breast; the disease, moreover, being for the most part one of later life. Thus 180 of the
deaths took place at ages above forty-five, and 19 between thirty-five and forty-five years.
In London, as a whole, the deaths from Malignant Disease, Cancer, were 4,904.
Premature Birth was the cause of 67 deaths; 53 in the Town sub-district and 14 in Brompton;
Old Age (Senile decay) of 73: 57 and 16 in the two sub-districts respectively; including
16 between 65 and 75 years, 28 between 75 and 85, and 28 at 85 years and upwards.
LOCAL DISEASES.
Nervous System.—The deaths from the diseases of this system were 136; 106 in the Town
sub-district and 30 in Brompton—as compared with 108, 123, and 114, in the preceding three
years; 40 of them occurred under five years of age. Twenty four of the deaths were due to Convulsions,
and 24 to diseases which, not being named specifically in the "New List," are classified
to " Other Diseases " of the System. The number of deaths from the several other diseases are
set out in the Table at page 105.
Circulatory System. — The deaths from Diseases of the Heart were 233—182 in the Town
sub-district and 51 in Brompton—as compared with 212, 209, and 220, in the three preceding
years. The larger proportion of deaths, 116, were registered from " Syncope, Heart Disease "
(not specified). Valvular Disease was accountable for 57 deaths, Angina Pectoris for 10, Dilatation
of Heart for 14, and Fatty Degeneration for 31.
Diseases of Blood Vessels were the causes of 145 deaths ; 109 in the Town sub-district and
36 in Brompton, including 82 from Cerebral Hemorrhage, Embolism, Thrombosis; and 28
from Apoplexy, Hemiplegia, conditions which generally connote cerebral hemorrhage.
Respiratory System.—The diseases of the respiratory organs (phthisis being excluded),
were accountable for 520 deaths (62 more than in 1906, and 21.0 per cent, on total deaths); 458
in the Town sub-district and 62 in Brompton—as compared with 516, 537, and 458, in the preceding
three years. The principal causes were Bronchitis 229 deaths, and Pneumonia, in one or other
of its forms, 235 deaths. The deaths under five years of age were 196, or 37.7 per cent, of the
total number, as compared with percentages of 30.6, 34.3, and 30.8, in the preceding three years;
* A considerable number of deaths are certified as due to " Failure of the Heart," in persons dying in old age. These
deaths are classified to " Old Age " in the Table at page 105.