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
Lambeth 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth Borough]
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25
DEATHS
Allowing for inward and outward transfers the total number of deaths
comprising 1,756 males and 1,716 females was 3,472.
The corrected death rate at 11.6 per 1,000 population is slightly lower than
England and Wales (11.7) and for Inner London, Outer and Greater London Areas
they are 11.6,11.1 and 11.3 respectively.
Sixty-six per cent of the total deaths occurred in persons aged 65 and over.
Heart and diseases of the circulatory system accounted for the largest
number of deaths, 1,511 occurring out of a total of 3,472.
Malignant neoplasms of all forms ranked second.
46 people took their own lives compared to 48 in 1969 and motor vehicle
accidents accounted for 46 deaths, an increase of 7 on the figure for last year.
Three mothers died as a result of diseases of pregnancy or childbirth giving
a maternal mortality rate of .53 per 1,000 total births. The figures for Inner
London, Outer London and Greater London Areas are 0.25,0.12 and 0.17
respectively.
INFANTILE MORTALITY
One hundred and thirteen infants died before reaching 1 year of age, 23 less
than in 1969. The infantile mortality rate fell to 20.3 per 1,000 live births com
pared with 22.75 last year.
The causes of death fell into the undermentioned categories
| Cause of death | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enteritis or other diarrhoeal diseases | 2 | — | 2 |
| Other Malignant Neoplasms | 1 | — | 1 |
| Meningococcal Infection | — | 1 | 1 |
| Infective and parasitic diseases | 1 | — | 1 |
| Pneumonia | 10 | 7 | 17 |
| Meningitis | 2 | — | 2 |
| Other diseases of respiratory system | 10 | 1 | 11 |
| Other diseases of nervous system | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Birth, injury, difficult labour etc. | 24 | 8 | 32 |
| Congenital Anomalies | 12 | 11 | 23 |
| Other defined and ill defined diseases | 1 | — | 1 |
| Influenza' | — | 1 | 1 |
| Intestinal obstruction and hernia | 1 | — | 1 |
| Other causes of perinatal mortality | 6 | 9 | 15 |
| All other accidents | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 72 | 41 | M3 |