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
Bethnal Green 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bethnal Green Borough]
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30
CANCER.
Cancer was responsible for 163 deaths or 12.6 per
cent of the total deaths in the Borough. This is a
substantial increase over 1931, when there were 129
deaths or 9 per cent of the total. The local distribution
of the disease in these deaths was as follows : —
M. F. Total.
Buccal cavity, pharynx 11 2 13
Digestive organs and
peritoneum 53 29 82
(Esophagus (4-0)
Stomach (27-12)
Intestines (4-9)
Rectum (11-5)
Others (7-3)
Respiratory organs 10 2 12
Uterus — 10 10
Other female genital
organs — 3 3
Breast — 21 21
Male genito - urinary
organs 13 — 13
Skin — — —
Other or unspecified
organs 6 3 9
93 70 163
The fact that Cancer causes one-eighth of the
mortality in the Borough (which is not very dissimilar
in this respect from the rest of the country) should
compel greater attention to this terrible disease.