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 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough.
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61
Influenza.
There were 138 deaths registered as being due to Influenza
during 1929 as against 14 in 1928, 83 in 1927, 25 in 1926, and 36 in
1925. The mortality-rate was 0.85, as compared with 0 085 in
1928, 0.49 in 1927, 0.15 in 1926, and 0.21 in 1925.
Influenzal Pneumonia was much more prevalent in 1929 than
in the previous year, 140 cases being notified as against 51 in 1928.
The death-rate was 0.39 per 1,000 of the population, as compared
with 0.02 in 1928, 0.24 in 1927, 0.07 in 1926, and 0.09 in 1925.
Cancer.
During 1929 the number of deaths of Battersea residents from
Cancer was 243 (males 112, females 131) as compared with 247 in
1928, 252 in 1927, 263 in 1926, and 236 in 1925. The death rate
from the disease per 1,000 of the population was 1 -50, as compared
with 1 -51 in 1928, 1 -49 in 1927, 1 -53 in 1926, and 1 -37 in 1925.
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 | 1929 | 1.50 |
The following table shews the localisation of the disease in the case of the 243 deaths recorded in 1929.
| Localisation. | No. of deaths. | Total. | % of Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | |||
| Buccal cavity | 6 | 1 | 7 | 2.88 |
| Stomach, liver, etc. | 36 | 34 | 70 | 28.81 |
| Peritoneum, intestines and rectum | 22 | 26 | 48 | 19.75 |
| Female genital organs | — | 31 | 31 | 12.76 |
| Breast | — | 24 | 24 | 9.88 |
| Skin | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.82 |
| Other and unspecified organs | 47 | 14 | 61 | 25.10 |
| Total | 112 | 131 | 243 | 100.00 |
Bacteriological Examinations.
During 1929 the number of bacteriological examinations of
specimens sent in by medical practitioners practising in Battersea
was 2,485. This number is exclusive of the Tuberculosis specimens,
the examination of which was carried out at the Tuberculosis
Dispensary.