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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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79
Cancer.
The number of deaths of Battersea residents from Cancer was
274 (males 134, females 140) as compared with 244 in 1937, 260 in
1936, 265 in 1935, and 240 in 1934. The death-rate from the disease
per 1,000 of the population was 1.93. The deaths from cancer
constitute 16.4 per cent. of the total Battersea deaths during the
year.
The following gives the comparative average death-rates from Cancer in Battersea for quinquennial periods since 1896, and for each year since 1935:—
| 1896-1900 | 0.52 | 1921-25 | 1.33 |
| 1901-5 | 0.88 | 1926-30 | 1.51 |
| 1906-10 | 0.95 | 1931-35 | 1.75 |
| 1911-15 | 1.11 | 1936 | 1.79 |
| 1916-20 | 1.28 | 1937 | 1.70 |
| 1938 | 1.93 | ||
The following table shews the localisation of the disease in the case of the 274 deaths recorded.
| Localisation. | No. of deaths. | Total. | Percentage of total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | |||
| Buccal cavity | 15 | 1 | 16 | 5.84 |
| Stomach, liver, peritoneum, intestines and rectum | 66 | 67 | 133 | 48.54 |
| Respiratory system | 24 | 5 | 29 | 10.58 |
| Female genital organs | — | 30 | 30 | 10.95 |
| Breast | — | 27 | 27 | 9.85 |
| Skin | 5 | 1 | 6 | 2.19 |
| Genito-urinary organs (male) | 17 | — | 17 | 6.21 |
| Other and unspecified organs | 7 | 9 | 16 | 5.84 |
| Total | 134 | 140 | 274 | 100.00 |
Diabetes.
For some years past, with the sanction of the Ministry of Health
the Council has borne the cost of insulin required by certain necessitous
patients who were receiving treatment for diabetes at London
hospitals. Insulin was supplied to two such cases in 1938.
Twenty deaths from this disease were registered in Battersea.
Bacteriological Examinations.
The bacteriological examination of clinical material (with the
exception of specimens of sputum, which are dealt with at the
Tuberculosis Dispensary, vide page 76) is carried out by the
Clinical Research Association, of Watergate House, Strand.
The number of bacteriological examinations of specimens sent
in by medical practitioners practising in Battersea was 1,661
(exclusive of the specimens dealt with at the tuberculosis dispensary).