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
Battersea 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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61
Influenza.
There were 14 deaths due to Influenza during 1928 as against
83 in 1927, 25 in 1926, 36 in 1925, and 84 in 1924. The mortalityrate
was .085, as compared with .49 in 1927, .15 in 1926, .21 in
1925, and .49 in 1924.
Influenzal Pneumonia was much less prevalent in 1928 than
in the previous year, 51 cases being notified as against 164 in 1927.
The death-rate was 0.02 per 1,000 of the population, as compared
with 0.24 in 1927, 0.07 in 1926, and 0.09 in 1925.
Cancer.
During 1928 the number of deaths of Battersea residents from
Cancer was 247 (males 112, females 135) as compared with 252 in
1927, 263 in 1926, 236 in 1925, and 231 in 1924. The death rate
from the disease per 1,000 of the population was 1.51, as compared
with 1.49 in 1927, 1.53 in 1926, 1.37 in 1925, and 1.35 in 1924.
The following gives the comparative average death-rates from Cancer in Battersea for quinquennial periods since 1896:—
| 1896-1900 | 0.52 | 1921-25 | 1.33 | |
| 1901-5 | 0.88 | 1926 | 1.53 | |
| 1906-10 | 0.95 | 1927 | 1.49 | |
| 1911-15 | 1.11 | 1928 | 1.51 | |
| 1916-20 | 1.28 | |||
The following table shews the localisation of the disease in the case of the 247 deaths recorded in 1928.
| Localisation. | No. of deaths. | Total. | % of Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | |||
| Buccal cavity | 6 | 3 | 9 | 3.64 |
| Stomach, liver, etc. | 36 | 34 | 70 | 28.34 |
| Peritoneum, intestines and rectum | 29 | 28 | 57 | 23.08 |
| Female genital organs | — | 23 | 23 | 9.31 |
| Breast | — | 29 | 29 | 11.74 |
| Skin | — | -— | — | — |
| Other and unspecified organs | 41 | 18 | 59 | 23.89 |
| Total | 112 | 135 | 247 | 100.00 |
Silicosis.
During the year investigations were made by the Coroner into
the deaths of two young female workers, age 17 and 19 years respectively,
employed at a factory in the Borough in which the
manufacture of a "scouring powder" was carried on. This article
contained powdered quartz mixed with some alkaline material
and in the process of filling the receptacles, considerable quantities
of dust were given off.