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11
Malignant diseases and Heart disease
In 1954, there were 347 deaths from malignant neoplasms
compared with 174 certified from similar causes in 1904.
Similarly, there were 787 deaths in 1954 which might be
compared to the cause "Heart disease" in 1904 which accounted
for only 212 deaths. Although these groups of diseases may,
in fact, be accounting for more deaths in 1954 than in 1904,
it cannot be taken for granted, particularly in view of the
large number of "Other causes" shown for 1904.
Respiratory diseases
Deaths from these diseases (including pneumonia and
bronchitis) show a drop from 515 in 1904 to 141 in 1954.
Apart from possible differences in classification (for example,
the 1904 figures may have included some cases which would have
been diagnosed as lung carcinoma in 1954), much of this
improvement may be due to the use of modern drugs. This view
is supported by the fact that there were only 9 deaths from
these diseases under the age of 25 in 1954 compared with 167
in 1904.
Influenza may be mentioned here, although conclusions
are difficult to draw in view of the loose use of the term.
In 1904 there were 50 deaths compared with 5 in 1954; the
majority of deaths occurring over the age of 25 in both years.
Diarrhoea and enteritis
In 1954, there were 10 deaths all occurring in people
over the age of 25. In 1904, there were 157 deaths, but 137
of these occurred in children under the age of 5 years. The
problem of gastro-enteritis in young children was recognised
specifically by the Kensington Council in 1924, when this
disease in children up to the age of 5 years was made notifiable.
Childbirth
There were only two deaths from this cause in 1954
compared with 12 in 1904
Infectious diseases
The following is a summary of the deaths from several
diseases in the two years concerned
1904 1954
Diphtheria 17 _
Whooping Cough 19 1
Measles 67 _
Smallpox 1 _
Scarlet fever 5 _
Enteric fever 7_
Erysipelas 3_
In respect of some of these diseases, a true comparison
cannot be reached in the absence of an analysis of the
borough's child population.
Violence
The figures for homicide are very small (1904 - 2
1954 - 1 ), but one interesting feature is that in the earlier
year both victims were under the age of 1 year (1 murder and
1 manslaughter) and in 1954 the victim was an adult.
There were only 21 suicides in 1904 compared with 39
in 1954.