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26
The speed and strain of modern civilization is thought to have
a great bearing on diseases of the heart and circulation and it is
pertinent to state here that in Greenwich almost a quarter of the
deaths from these so called ' stress ' diseases occurred in people
between the ages of 25 and 65 years, the most productive period of
life. It is significant too, that males formed, by far, the larger
proportion of the deaths in this age category, viz. 64%.
Social and environmental conditions are probably pre-disposing
factors in hypertension and coronary disease but recent research
has focussed attention on diet and, in particular, on fatty acids.
Should these suspicions become substantiated then coronary
artery disease becomes in part, a preventable disease.
Diseases of the Respiratory System. — There were
altogether 158 deaths from these diseases, Bronchitis accounting
for 72 and Pneumonia (all forms) for 79. These figures show increases
of 48, 13 and 25 respectively over those of the previous
year.
Of the total deaths 5 were children under one year of age
and 123 were in respect of persons 65 years and over.
Influenza.—There were 3 deaths attributed to this cause
during the year compared with one returned for last year. None
was registered in 1954 but fifteen were recorded during 1953.
Deaths from Violence.—These numbered 29 including 6
from Motor Vehicle Accidents, 8 from Suicide and the remainder
being accounted for under the heading of ' All Other Accidents.'
Deaths from Motor Vehicle Accidents were two fewer in
number to those of the previous year, while the figure for suicide
showed no change.