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

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Hornsey 1924

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hornsey, Borough of]

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8
rather than of the young. A small part of the increase may be
due to better diagnosis on the part of medical practitioners; but
probably neither of these two factors is sufficient to explain the
increasing prevalence of this fatal condition.
The cause, the natural history, of cancer has not yet been
fully elucidated, although scientists for many years have been
examining the nature of this disease. Some few facts about
it seem, however, to be clearly established. Chronic irritation
or inflammation, a neglected sore, certain trade processes and
other conditions leading to excessive stimulation of the cells of
the body lead frequently to these cells becoming malignant. It
has been suggested also, that auto-intoxication or self-poisoning
due to over-eating, chronic constipation and a sedentary life is
a predisposing cause of cell malignancy. Again, the theory has
been advanced that staleness of food and preservatives in food
poison the body cells and induce them to be cancerous. Certain
foods, such as animal fat, meat, butter, milk and eggs contain a
"growth-producing vitamin" which, while it is of essential value
to the rapidly growing child, is, or may be, of actual detriment
to the adult who has ceased to grow; and it would seem that at
the "cancer ages" an excess of this growth-producing vitamin
might predispose the tissues to form new growths. Certainly
the majority of people over 40 years of age tend to eat more
than is necessary to maintain life and activity, and it is interesting
to note in this connection that whatever cancer may be, it
is not a disease of poverty. No doubt, when the true facts
regarding the life history of this disease are known, the prevention
of it will become easy; but in the meantime little can be
done except to advise the public to live so far as possible healthy
and natural lives, to abstain from excesses and to be on the
watch for any signs or symptoms of that chronic cell irritation
which later may lead to malignant diseases.
Tuberculosis was the cause of death in 60 instances. Details
are given in Tables B and C.
Heart Disease caused 107 deaths and Nephritis or Bright's
Disease was given as the cause of death of 34 persons. These
two diseases represent in the majority of cases, though not in all,
the penalty which is paid to the stress and strain of modern
life. Much invalidism and mortality from heart disease and
kidney trouble could be avoided if the "beginnings" of the disease