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52
During 1966 there were 91 deaths from violence in the Borough,
giving a rate of 0.39 per 1,000 population compared with a rate of
0.51 for England and Wales and 0.45 for Greater London.
Motor Vehicle Accidents.—Road accidents, which are now the
commonest cause of death in adolescents and young adults, were
responsible for 7,454 deaths in England and Wales during the year.
This represents a slight improvement from the previous year when
the total was 7,515.
Justifiably, much has been made of the serious nature of the
increase in deaths from cancer and heart disease but it must be
recognised that, from a national and economic standpoint, a child
who is killed in a road accident is a greater potential loss to the
community than a person over 65 years who dies from either of
the other causes.
Twenty-eight persons in the Borough died from this cause during
1966, a reduction of 7 from the previous year. The calculated rate of
0.12 compares favourably with the rates of 0.15 and 0.12 for England
and Wales and Greater London respectively.
Suicide.—Contrary to general belief, suicide continues to claim
a substantial number of victims. In England and Wales, the number
of suicides during 1966 amounted to the formidable figure of 4,994,
giving a rate of 0.10 per 1,000 population. Moreover, of this total,
approximately one fifth, viz. 992 were recorded in London, giving a
rate of 0.13 compared with 24 deaths and a rate of 0.10 for Greenwich.
Figures for London in particular throw into relief a psychiatric
problem which is becoming very familiar in the cities of countries
which sustain high living standards, for deaths from suicide in the
Metropolis were more than twice those for tuberculosis and greater
than the total deaths from road accidents.
Homicide.—One death was recorded during the year in respect
of a woman of 39 years who died from manual strangulation, the
perpetrator being convicted of murder.
Parents of a 3 months old female child who died from malnutrition
were convicted of manslaughter but the death was considered
to be accidental.
All Other Accidents.—The remaining deaths from violence in
the Borough, viz. 38, give a rate of 0.16 per 1,000 population which
compares favourably with the rate of 0.23 for England and Wales
and that of 0.19 for Greater London.
Home accidents were responsible for 18 deaths giving a Borough
rate of 0.08 per 1,000 population. Among these were 4 deaths from
carbon monoxide poisoning, 5 from falls, 5 from asphyxia resulting