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 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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fairly constant. 59 out of the 119 male deaths, or practically 50 per cent, were in the
age group 45-65, so that lung cancer is an affliction rather of late middle age
than of the elderly. The relationship between lung cancer and long continued heavy
cigarette smoking has been more firmly established within the past year. It is
important that the adolescent and young adult should be aware of and be warned of
the long-term risk of cigarette smoking. There is evidence also that even for adults
with a long established practice, the giving up of the habit of cigarette smoking does
reduce to some extent the liability to contract lung cancer.
The following table gives the deaths from accidents to Islington residents from 1950 onwards :—
| 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle accidents 24 | 26 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 33 | 29 |
| Other violent accidents 61 | 61 | 48 | 46 | 40 | 50 | 51 |
In the following table causes of accidental deaths in 1956 are analysed, in their respective age groups.
| Type | 0- | 1- | 5- | 15- | 25- | 45- | 65- | 75+ M | F | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle Accidents | — | 2 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 9 | 29 |
| Falls | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 24 |
| Accidental Poisoning (Solid, | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Liquid Gases and Vapours) | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Drowning | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Fire | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Inhalation of Stomach contents | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Others (Railway Accidents, etc.) | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 13 |
| Total | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 25 | 48 | 32 | 80 |