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
Paddington 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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24
CHOLERA, DYSENTERY, GLANDERS, HYDROPHOBIA, PLAGUE,
RELAPSING FEVER, TYPHUS FEVER.
Fifty-six cases of dysentery were notified during 1937; but there were no cases of the other
diseases included in the heading.
WHOOPING-COUGH.
This disease is notifiable in only three London Boroughs and not in Paddington.
In 1937, 6 persons died of whooping-cough, 5 being children under the age of 5 years and 1
over 5 years of age. The number of deaths in 1936 and 1935 were 3 and 5 respectively.
Five children under 5 years of age received nursing assistance, the number of visits paid by
the nurses being 34.
FOOD POISONING.
Section 182 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, requires medical practitioners to notify
cases of food poisoning or suspected food poisoning. During 1937, 30 cases of illness, suspected to
have been caused by food poisoning, were notified in the Borough. In no case was action considered
necessary as regards the source of the food supply. In most of the cases there was no doubt that the
illness was not " food-poisoning," but was due to personal idiosyncrasy or to the results of some
dietetic indiscretion.
CANCER.
Cancer is now one of the commonest causes of death. Two hundred and seventy-three deaths
occurred among Paddington residents during the year.
The numbers of deaths for previous years are shown m the hst following :—
Numbers of Deaths of Paddington Residents.
| 1906 | 164 |
| 1916 | 205 |
| 1917 | 201 |
| 1918 | 164 |
| 1919 | 170 |
| 1920 | 194 |
| 1921 | 226 |
| 1922 | 191 |
| 1923 | 206 |
| 1924 | 234 |
| 1925 | 230 |
| 1926 | 239 |
| 1927 | 247 |
| 1928 | 260 |
| 1929 | 284 |
| 1930 | 278 |
| 1931 | 226 |
| 1932 | 254 |
| 1933 | 231 |
| 1934 | 222 |
| 1935 | 235 |
| 1936 | 271 |
| 1937 | 273 |
The following table furnishes an analysis of the sites affected in the fatal cases of cancer during the year. The total number differs slightly from the number in the table supplied by the Registrar-General, appearing on page 10.
| Site of Disease. | Ages. | All Ages. | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0— | 15— | 25— | 35— | 45— | 55— | 65— | 75— | |||||||||||
| M. | F | M, | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | |
| Buccal cavity and pharynx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | 6 | — | 2 | — | 12 | 1 | |
| Digestive organs and peri toneum | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 8 | 6 | 28 | 18 | 22 | 17 | 21 | 17 | 79 | 60 |
| Respiratory organs | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 4 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 1 | — | — | 24 | 5 | ||
| Uterus | _ | — | — | _ | — | — | — | 1 | — | 4 | — | 7 | — | 3 | — | 1 | — | 16 |
| Other female genital organs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | ||
| Breast | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | —. | 6 | — | 7 | — | 6 | — | 5 | — | 27 |
| Male genito-urinary organs | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 6 | — | 3 | — | 3 | — | 14 | — |
| Skin ... | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | |
| Other or unspecified organs | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 12 |
| — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 19 | 47 | 41 | 41 | 34 | 28 | 26 | 137 | 127 | |