London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Islington 1912

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]

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109
[1912
ALCOHOLISM.
The deaths caused by alcoholism numbered 11, which is an increase of
7 on the return of the preceding year. It is, however, nearly 50 per cent,
below the average record of the preceding 11 years viz.-21 deaths per annum.
The return showed that five of the deaths occurred among males and 6 among
females-
It is a notable fact that the records of the last 12 years show that a
larger number of females than males have died from this cause, the actual
figures being 109 males and 134 females. Since 1907 there has been on the
whole a decrease year by year in these deaths, which are caused by the
drinking habits of the people, and this decrease has been particularly marked
among females. This no doubt is due to the undoubted change in the habits
of rich and poor alike as regards alcoholic drinks, which have in the past been
the cause, not only of so many deaths, but of so much misery in the homes of
the people.

The number of deaths during each year since 1901 is as follows :—

Acute.Chronic.Total.Males.Females.
190127-27720
19029-29382018
19033-23261313
19044-18221210
I9054-2125916
19063-1316511
19074-24281018
19083-141789
19094-1418126
19103-81165
1911-4422
19123-81156
243109134

VENEREAL DISEASES.
These diseases, the chief of which are syphilis and gonorrhoea, caused 17
deaths in 1912, which was exactly the average of the preceding 10 years,
although four above the return for 1911, and two above those for 1910 and
1909.
Seven deaths were those of adults and eight of infants under one year old.
There were also two deaths of children aged 1 to 5 years.