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41
Logically, the restriction of fat in the diet, especially that of
animal origin, would appear to be indicated to control its deposit
in the walls of the arteries. However, as cholesterol is an essential
part of the blood and is manufactured by natural processes
irrespective of fat intake, it is possible that it may be altered little
by a control of fat in the diet. Nevertheless, the clotting power
of blood has been proved to increase substantially after a fatty
meal and it must be remembered that the most serious aspect
of atheroma is the clotting of blood in the diseased blood vessels.
Therefore, on this point alone, a reduction in dietary fat could
be considered reasonable. One drawback to this regimen is that
food not only becomes unpalatable without fat, but as fat is the
commodity which slows digestion, the patient will tend to live a
miserable existence by being constantly hungry.
Diseases of the Respiratory System.—There were altogether
142 deaths from these diseases, bronchitis accounting for
72 and Pneumonia (all forms) 64. The total shows a decrease of
26 from that of the previous year; deaths from Pneumonia fell
by 6 and those from Bronchitis by 20.
Of the total deaths, 6 were children under one year of age
and 108 were in respect of persons 65 years and over.
Greenwich rates for Pneumonia and Bronchitis were 0.76 and
0.86 respectively which compare with 0.78 and 0.74 returned for
England Wales. The corresponding rates for London were 0.97
and 1.00.
Influenza.—There were 4 deaths attributed to this cause
during the year compared with 2 for 1962.
Deaths from Violence.—These numbered 41 including 15
from Motor Vehicle Accidents, 13 from Suicide, one resulting
from homicide, and the remainder being accounted for under the
heading of "All Other Accidents."
The number of deaths from Motor Vehicle Accidents was
similar to that of the previous year while the figure for Suicide
decreased by 1.
Accidents in the home, deaths from which are running at a rate
of about 12,000 per annum, are generally forseeable and therefore
preventable but legislation can play only a very small part in the
problem, namely, in ensuring the safety of all appliances used
domestically. Home safety is essentially a parental responsibility
and education of prospective parents in accident prevention should
be considered to be of major importance. Experience, which seems
to play a great part in enabling parents to anticipate and guard
against potential accident conditions, is a commodity difficult to
pass on theoretically.