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NON-INFECTIVE DISEASES
The total number of deaths from cancer and malignant disease
was 878, the number of males being 454 and females 424. The death
rate was 2.58 per 1,000. The number of deaths in 1959 was 296 less
than in the previous year.
This fall in cancer deaths is due to the fact that at the beginning of
1959 a revision was made by the Registrar General in the allocation
of deaths at one of the hospitals in the borough. Deaths previously
allocated to Wandsworth are now allocated to the areas in which the
patients were previously living.
Deaths from diseases of the heart and circulatory system were
1,927 compared with 1,955 in 1958. Of these deaths 1,610 were of
persons of 65 years of age and above.
There were 736 deaths from diseases of the respiratory system
compared with 646 in 1958. The number of deaths from bronchitis
was 325 compared with 305 in 1958, and from pneumonia (all forms)
358 compared with 295 in 1958.
Two hundred deaths were due to violence, 42 of them being due to
motor accidents, 63 to suicide and 95 to other forms of violence.
CERTIFICATES OF VACCINATION AND INOCULATION
Two thousand, two hundred and ninety-four requests were
received from residents in the Borough for a certificate of vaccination
or inoculation to be authenticated for the purpose of travel abroad.
The signature of the person issuing the certificate was verified in
each case as that of a registered medical practitioner practising in
Wandsworth and the certificate was endorsed accordingly.
STAFF MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
At the request of the Committees and Chief Officers concerned,
arrangements were made during the year for 11 members of the
Council's staff to undergo special medical examinations. In the
majority of cases the purpose of the examination was to determine
the employee's future fitness for his occupation, following serious
illness, and in nine cases it was found necessary to recommend
superannuation.
Sixty shorter reports on members of the staff who were sick were
obtained from doctors and hospitals at the request of the departments
concerned.
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