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10
CAUSES OF DEATH IN KENSINGTON (IN AGE GROUPS) IN 1954
COMPARED WITH 1904
On the preceding pages is a combined table showing the deaths
occurring in Kensington residents in the years 1954 and 1904
analysed by cause and age. The following are other relevant
statistics for the two years:-
1954 1904
Population 170,600 178,500
Total deaths 1,643 2,540
Males 737 1,190
Females 906 1,350
Crude death rate 9.63 14.2
For a number of reasons a direct comparison between the
two years is difficult. The classification of causes of
death has altered radically. In 1904, for example, there is
an all inclusive cause "Malignant Disease: Cancer", whereas
in 1954 malignant diseases were analysed. Again, in 1904
a generic term "Heart disease" was used in place of a number
of differentiated causes used now.
In addition to changes in terminology and classification,
account must be taken of advances in medical knowledge and
practice. In 1904, 728 deaths were recorded under the
heading "All other causes"; a significantly smaller figure
of 135 is shown for this heading in 1954. Alcoholism,
which accounted for 11 deaths in 1904, is now no longer
regarded as a precise cause of death.
Even where direct comparisons can be made, as in the
diseases of whooping cough, measles and scarlet fever, there
is the possibility to be considered that organisms causing
the diseases have changed, and the comparison may not be
between like things.
However, there are a few observations which can be made.
The age of death has materially altered. This is
graphically illustrated in the chart on Page 13 from which it
is clear that the heavy death rate in the early years of life,
which was manifest at the beginning of the century, has been
substantially reduced; the death rate in the age period 25/64
has been almost halved and there is a resultant increase in the
65+ age group.
These facts have to be considered with the age distribution
of the population which is shown on the same page. It will
be seen that in 1951 there were roughly twice as many people
living over the age of 65 as in 1901. In the 25/65 age group
this proportion approaches unity and through the 15/24 and
the 5/14 groups progressively diminishes to approximately one
half. Deaths are occurring at later ages from different
diseases.
Tuberculosis
There is a marked difference between the deaths in these
two years. Apart from the disparity in numbers, in 1954
there were no deaths from respiratory tuberculosis under the
age of 15 years compared with 16 in 1904. For non-respiratory
tuberculosis, there was one death compared with 81 in the same
age-group. In respiratory tuberculosis, the peak group in
1904 was 25/62+ whilst in 1954, with a smaller number of deaths,
the peak occurred in the highest age group.