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 1922
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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21
and epithelioma were the assigned cause of 21 deaths; 42 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:— DEATHS FROM CANCER 1922.
| Parts Affected. | Sex. | Total. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male. | Female. | ||||
| Buccal Cavity, No. 39 | 12 | 1 | 13 | ||
| Stomach, Liver, etc., No. 40 | 27 | 36 | 63 | ||
| Peritoneum, Intestines, Rectum, No. 41 | 25 | 39 | 64 | ||
| Female Genital Organs, No. 42 | 35 | 35 | |||
| Breast, No. 43 | 38 | 38 | |||
| Skin, No. 44 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Other and unspecified Organs, No. 45 | 33 | 14 | 47 | ||
| Totals | 98 | 163 | 261 | ||
The numbers following the description of the parts affected refer to the classification of causes of death adopted bv the
Registrar-General for use in England and Wales.
The deaths in the several wards, etc., are set out in the following Table:—
| The Borough | 261 | |
| North Kensington | 122 | |
| South Kensington | 136 | |
| St. Charles | 33 | |
| Golborne | 28 | |
| Norland | 27 | |
| Pembridge | 34 | |
| Holland | 31 | |
| Earl's Court | 35 | |
| Queen's Gate | 19 | |
| Redcliffe | 34 | |
| Brompton | 17 | |
| Ward Unknown | 3 | |
Whilst the number of deaths from cancer in 1922 was smaller by 18 than in the previous
year, it is nevertheless true that the death rate from this disease is steadily increasing throughout
the country.
In the United Kingdom over 50,000 people die annually from this disease.
Various societies and individuals are engaged in research, many working singly and not coordinated
with their colleagues, and the time has now arrived when the evidence should be brought
together and analysed, no matter how remote the prospects of a cure may appear to be at the
present.
If the enquiry should make no actual discovery, the public would, at least, know the position
of present scientific knowledge in regard to cancer.
HOME NURSING BY THE KENSINGTON DISTRICT NURSING ASSOCIATION.
In July, 1917, the Council made a grant of £50 per annum to the Kensington District Nursing
Association, in return for which the Association agreed to undertake, when requested by the Medical
Officer of Health, the nursing of measles, German measles, whooping cough, ophthalmia, summer
diarrhoea, tuberculosis or any other disease for which nursing assistance is required, and to retain
on their staff a nurse who is a qualified midwife and who will be available for the nursing of
ophthalmia cases. In December, 1920, the grant was increased to £100 per annum, and on
March 7th, 1922, it was decided to make the grant £150 for the year 1922.