London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Islington 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
Continued from previous page...
| Deaths | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Total | |
| 1950 | 115 | 14 | 129 |
| 1951 | 104 | 23 | 127 |
| 1952 | 107 | 20 | 127 |
| 1953 | 114 | 19 | 133 |
| 1954 | 98 | 25 | 123 |
| 1955 | 103 | 17 | 120 |
| 1956 | 119 | 22 | 141 |
| 1957 | 127 | 25 | 152 |
| 1958 | 130 | 24 | 154 |
No new evidence has been brought forward which in any way controverts the
evidence accepted by the Ministry of Health that the principal factor in the
increase in lung cancer over the past years is due to prolonged and heavy
cigarette smoking by individuals. Many enquiries have shown that cigarette
smoking in boys frequently starts quite early. Substantial numbers of
schoolboys smoke in their early 'teens and a not inconsiderable number at even
earlier ages. The problem is therefore being tackled by many school authorities
but the work of these authorities cannot be made easier without active parental
co-operation It is obvious that the attitude of parents towards their children
smoking at an early age is most important in regard to the commencement of this
habit.
Accidents.
The following table gives the deaths from accidents to Islington residents from 1952 onwards:-
| 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle accidents | 18 | 18 | 19 | 33 | 29 | 21 | 30 |
| Other violent accidents | 48 | 46 | 40 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 40 |
In the following table causes of accidental deaths in 1958 are analysed, in their respective age groups.
| Type | 0- | 1- | 5- | 15 | - 25- | 45- | 65- | 75† | M | F. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle Accidents | - | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 9 | 30 |
| Falls | - | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 21 |
| Accidental Poisoning (Solid, Liquid Gases and Vapours) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Drowning | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| Fire | - | - | - | - | 2 | - | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | |
| Inhalation of Stomach contents, ingestion of food, etc, | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Others (Railway Accidents, etc.) | - | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | . | . | . | 5 | - | 5 |
| Total | - | 2 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 19 | 46 | 24 | 70 |
The total of fatal accidents was three less than last year, but 30
fatalities due to motor vehicle accidents were an increase of nine over the
previous year.