View report page

OTHER DISEASES.
21
Analysing the deaths according to the variety of neoplasma certified, it appears that 76.4 of the
total deaths (persons) were due to carcinoma, 5.1 to epithelioma, 0.1 to scirrhus, 6.1 to sarcoma and
12.2 to other and indefinite varieties. (Table 12.) The foregoing percentages differ greatly from
those observed during the quinquennium 1901-05 when the records were—carcinoma, 48.5; epithelioma,
4.4; scirrhus, 3.4; sarcoma, 7.3; and other and indefinite forms, 36.4. The fall in the
proportion certified as due to "other and indefinite forms" can be explained by more careful certification
on the one hand and by the enquiries which are made by the Department when the certified cause
is vague. No explanation can be offered of the falls in the proportions certified due to scirrhus and
sarcoma, except, possibly, a change in fashion.
On distributing the deaths according to the site of the disease it is found that the increased
incidence has been mainly in the digestive, urinary and generative systems. The averages for the last
three years and for the two previous decennia, of deaths due to disease in the systems mentioned are
set out below. The change in the population has been so slight that the figures quoted are practically
as good as mortality rates for purposes of the present comparison.

"0" Average less than unity.
Mortality Rates.—The deaths recorded last year were equivalent to a rate of 1.40 per 1,000 persons,
the mean rates for 1910-12 and 1920-22 being 1.18 and 1.44. The mortality rates for males were—
1913,1.30; 1910-12,1.20; 1920-22,1.48; and those for females (same order)—1-48, 1.17, and 1.36.
Deaths in Institutions.—Of the 206 deaths 87 (42.4 per cent.) took place in institutions, the
percentage of deaths of males being 52.5 and that of females, 35.7. In 1922 the percentages were—
Persons, 50.8; males, 58.0; females, 43.8, and in 1921 (same order)—49.5, 53.7 and 46.6. By far
the larger proportion of institutional deaths were in Poor Law infirmaries.
OTHER DISEASES.
Dysentery.—Two cases were notified during the year both in females, one aged 7 years and the
other 40. The former was an inmate of the Children's Hospital, Paddington Green, whence she was
removed to one of the M.A.B. Hospitals. The Flexner bacillus had been found in the child's faeces
before the case was notified, but was hot found after admission to the M.A.B. Hospital. There had
been a case of the disease from another area under treatment in the ward of the Children's Hospital
in which the Paddington child was lying. The second patient's attack was a recurrence of the disease
of which the first attack took place while she was residing in China some three years previously. The
amœba histologica was identified in this case.
Malaria.—Two cases both in adult males were reported. The disease had been originally
contracted by both men while abroad on service.
Alcoholism.—Two deaths, one of each sex, were assigned last year to "Alcoholism, acute and
chronic" as compared with 5 (males, 2; females, 3) in 1922. On the other hand there were 11 deaths
(males, 6; females, 5) from alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver last year as compared with 5 (males, 2;
females, 3) in 1922. The 13 deaths (males, 7; females, 6) recorded under these two heads must,
in the absence of further information, be taken as the measure of the mortality caused by the excessive
consumption of alcohol. They represent a mortality of 0.08 per 1,000 persons, the mortality among
males being 0.11 and that among females, 0.07. During the three years 1910-12 the mean mortalities
were: males, 0.19; females, 0.17; the corresponding rates for 1920-22 being 0.10 and 0.07.