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22
INQUESTS.
Old Age.—The deaths placed under this head during the year numbered 54 (males, 11; females,
43), and in 1922, 68 (males, 13; females, 55). During 1910-12 the deaths of males assigned to "Old
Age" numbered 37 and those of females 67, the corresponding figures for 1920-22 being: males, 22;
females, 57.
Within the past few years there has been a change of practice in certifying the deaths of very
old people who die without signs or symptoms of active disease. A considerable proportion of such
deaths are now certified as due to "arterio-sclerosis without other lesion" instead of "old age."
Last year, 4 of the deaths certified due to age occurred at ages under 70 years, while those dying at
higher ages numbered 51 (males, 11; females, 40). At ages exceeding 70 years the deaths due to
arterio-sclerosis were: males, 21; females, 47. It is probable that the combined figures, viz.:
males, 31; females, 87, more nearly correspond with the numbers given above for the years 1910-12,
but they may not fit with those for 1920-22.
Venereal Disease.—Last year 10 deaths were ascribed to syphilis, 7 of males and 3 of females,
the numbers for 1922 being: Persons, 8: males, 3; females, 5. Four of the deaths recorded last
year were those of infants under one (males, 3; females, 1). In 1922 there were 4 deaths at those
ages, equally divided between the two sexes. The mortality among males last year was 0.11, that
among females, 0.03. During 1910-12 the mean mortality rates were 0.11 and 0 06 and those during
1920-22, 0.07 and 0.03. As in the case of alcoholism the mortality from this cause fell during the war
period but shows signs of returning to its former level.
V.D. Clinic.—This Clinic at St. Mary's Hospital receives patients from all parts of the Metropolis
and certain of the Home Counties. Last year 654 persons attended for the first time—263 of whom
were infected with syphilis, 3 had soft chancre, and 248 gonorrhoea, the remainder (140) being found
free from venereal disease. The total attendances (old and new cases) during the year numbered
9,616. The discharges, i.e., after proved freedom from infection, numbered 165, while 181 others
gave up attendance before treatment was complete. Inability to enforce attendance until freedom
from infection has been demonstrated is one of the weaknesses of the present method of dealing
with venereal diseases.
VII. INQUESTS.
Last year 201 inquests were held in the Borough, 50 of the deceased persons being non-residents.
Those figures show a slight reduction below the average for the preceding quinquennium, viz.: 209
inquests, including 62 re deaths of non-residents.
The corrected number of inquests on residents of the Borough was 196, an increase of 17 above the
annual average (179) for 1918-22. The inquests on males numbered 117 (average 101), and those on
females 79 (average 78). The deaths registered after inquest last year constituted 11.3 per cent.
of all deaths as compared with 9.4 during 1918-22. On distributing the inquests according to the
residences of the deceased persons, it has been found that the percentages of such deaths to all deaths
were higher last year than the averages in all Wards except Maida Vale. The most notable increase
occurred in Lancaster Gate, West, Ward where the percentage was 18.2 last year as compared with
an average of 8.8. Last year the percentages in Queen's Park (8.1) and Maida Vale (8.7) Wards
were the only two below that noted in the Borough (11.3).
The findings at the inquests held last year were: Natural Causes, 101 (Average, 1918-22, 81).
Misadventure, 10 (6); Accidental Causes, 49 (57); Suicide, 23 (22); Murder, 2 (2); Open, 10 (8);
Neglect, 1 (3). Expressing the numbers of the various findings as percentages of the total number
of inquests, it is found that last year the proportions for Natural Causes was 51.1 (Average
1918-22 being 45.2); that for Misadventure, 5.1 (Average, 3.3); and that for Open, 5.1 (Average,
4.4). The proportions for the other findings were all less last year than the respective averages.
Traffic Accidents.—Including 2 found to have been due to misadventure, there were 17 deaths
attributable to various forms of traffic, the average for the preceding quinquennium being 15. Included
in the 17 deaths were 11 from motor traffic (average, 9).; 2 from rail services (average, 1); and 1 from
aeroplane—the first on record in the Borough.
Gas fatalities.—Last year there were 5 deaths by coal gas, the annual average of gas fatalities
being 7. The fatalities of last year were all suicides, 2 by men (average, 3); and 3 by women (average,
3). Special reports (with plans) on all the cases were forwarded to the Ministry of Health and the
Board of Trade.