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
Islington 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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10
is therefore extremely important that young people, above all, should refrain from
taking up smoking rather than run this potential risk which may develop from middle
age onwards.
Diseases of the Respiratory System. Deaths due to influenza, pneumonia and
bronchitis were considerably up in 1955 in comparison with the previous year, the
total from these combined causes being 441 and 298 respectively.
Accidents.
The following table gives the deaths from accidents to Islington residents from 1950 onwards :—
| 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle accidents | 24 | 26 | 18 | 18 | 19 | |
| Other violent accidents | 61 | 61 | 48 | 46 | 40 | 50 |
It will be seen from the table that the highest number of fatal motor accidents
to Islington residents occurred in 1955. The increase was accounted for almost
entirely by a greater number of deaths in males, the majority of these being adults,
25-65 years.
In the following table there is an analysis of the causes of accidental deaths in 1955 in their respective age groups, and it will be noted that fatal accidents due to falls also increased, again, mainly among elderly men.
| Type | 0- | 1- | 5- | 15- | 25- | 45- | 65- | 75 + | M | F | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle Accidents | — | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 26 | 7 | 33 |
| Falls | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 27 |
| Accidental Poisoning (Solid, Liquid Gases and Vapours) | _ | _ | - | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Drowning | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | 2 |
| Fire | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 8 |
| Inhalation of Stomach contents | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Others (Railway Accidents, etc.) | 1 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Total | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 19 | 8 | 29 | 54 | 29 | 83 |
The above fatalities refer to accidents to persons domiciled in Islington, but
irrespective of the location of the accident.
Suicides. Suicide deaths, at 29, remained at much the same level as in the previous
year, the highest incidence being in males, 2 5'45 years.