View report page

148
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Of the eight deaths in the Prison, one was from Tubercular
disease, three from diseases of the Respiratory Organs, one from
Cancer, one from Bright's disease, one from Enteric Fever, and
one was a case of Execution.
Of the 30 deaths in the Workhouse, 11 were from Old Age,
eight from Premature Birth and Developmental diseases, one
from diseases of Parturition, one from diseases of the Respiratory
Organs, two from diseases of the Heart, two from Softening of
the Brain, and five from other causes.
In other places not Institutions 105 deaths occurred, 12 of
these being from Accidents, five from Cancer, 10 from Suicide,
four from Tubercular disease of the Lungs, three from disease of
the Heart, nine from diseases of the Respiratory Organs, four
from Old Age, two from Nephritis, seven from Premature Birth
and Developmental diseases, and 49 from all other causes. 29 of
these deaths occurred in Private Nursing Homes, three in the
River Thames, and two in the River Wandle.
There has again been a marked increase in the number of
deaths in Institutions, and to show that the increase has been
going on for some years, the following Table has been prepared.
The comparative percentages for London are also shown,
and it will be noted that in the 20 years 1889-1908 these increased
in London from 24.5 to 41.9 with an average of 31*14, and in
Wandsworth from 15.2 to 28.7, with an average of 19.45.
In this Borough the percentage is lower than for the whole
of London, and this is what might be expected in consequence of
the social condition of the population, but in spite of the better
social condition, it is rather startling to find that over 30 per cent.
of the total deaths occurred in Institutions, and that for the year
1909 16 per cent. occurred in the Workhouse and Workhouse
Infirmary.
Compared with the 20 years' average, the greatest increase
has occurred among the deaths in Workhouse and Workhouse
Infirmaries, while the rate in the Metropolitan Asylums Board's
Hospitals is slightly lower.