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
Finsbury 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]
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163
In view of the marked tendency to a greater average age of
the population arising from a lessening birth rate and lowered
death rate, it appears inevitable that the vital statistics of the whole
country will show, as time goes on, a gradual increase in the proportion
of deaths due to this disease.
The number of deaths from cancer in 1937 yielded a rate of
2.2 per 1,000 of the population. An increase in the rate will be
noted.
The following table shows the number of deaths from cancer and the death rates for the last 10 years. At the beginning of the century the death rate was 581 per 1,000.
| Year. | No. of Deaths. | Death Rate. |
|---|---|---|
| 1928 | 122 | 1.7 |
| 1929 | 108 | 1.5 |
| 1930 | 115 | 1.6 |
| 1931 | 101 | 1.4 |
| 1932 | 102 | 1.5 |
| 1933 | 105 | 1.6 |
| 1934 | 127 | 1.95 |
| 1935 | 121 | 1.91 |
| 1936 | 113 | 1.88 |
| 1937 | 130 | 2.2 |
Insulin Treatment of Diabetes.
Arrangements have been in force since July, 1931, under
Section 77 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, for the provision
of insulin for the treatment of poor persons suffering from
diabetes.
Applications are submitted to the Health Department;
periodical reports of the progress of the patient, containing the
dose of insulin given and the progress of the patient are sent to the
Health Department in respect of each patient receiving the insulin
at the expense of the Council. Last year four cases were accepted
under the scheme at a cost to the Council of £9 7s. 6d.