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
London County Council 1905
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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(c)
| Age-period. | 0- | 5- | 10- | 15- | 20- | 25- | 35- | 45- | 55- | 65- | 75- | 85 and upwards | All ages. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddington | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 4 | - | 37 |
| Kensington | — | — | - | - | — | 3 | 5 | 14 | 32 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 79 |
| Hammersmith | - | - | — | - | - | 1 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 38 |
| Fulham | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 10 | — | — | 29 |
| Chelsea | - | - | - | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 24 |
| Westminster, City of .. | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 11 | 19 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 59 |
| St. Marylebone | - | — | - | — | — | 1 | 7 | 25 | 21 | 15 | 9 | — | 78 |
| Hampstead | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 12 |
| Pancras | - | — | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 29 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 79 |
| Islington | - | — | - | — | — | 4 | 8 | 44 | 50 | 60 | 13 | 2 | 181 |
| Stoke Newington | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 28 |
| Hackney | - | — | - | — | 1 | 1 | 7 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 86 |
| Holborn | - | — | - | — | — | — | — | 5 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 19 |
| Finsbury | - | — | - | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | 9 | 2 | 4 | — | 19 |
| London, City of | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | — | 3 | 6 | 2 | — | 11 |
| Shoreditch | - | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 48 |
| Bethnal Green | - | — | - | — | — | — | 4 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 4 | — | 54 |
| Stepney | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 11 | 14 | 20 | 15 | 4 | — | 65 |
| Poplar | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 11 | 15 | 12 | 4 | — | 45 |
| Southwark | - | — | - | — | 1 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 9 | 3 | — | 48 |
| Bermondsey | - | — | - | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 1 | — | 25 |
| Lambeth | - | — | - | — | — | 5 | 13 | 28 | 42 | 37 | 13 | 2 | 140 |
| Battersea | - | — | - | — | 1 | 1 | 9 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 73 |
| Wandsworth | - | — | - | — | — | 4 | 12 | 23 | 33 | 27 | 12 | — | 111 |
| Camberwell | - | — | - | — | — | 1 | 6 | 20 | 28 | 25 | 9 | 3 | 92 |
| Deptford | - | — | - | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 13 | 8 | 2 | — | 32 |
| Greenwich | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 37 |
| Lewisham | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 41 |
| Woolwich | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 3 | — | 36 | |
| London | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | 32 | 140 | 357 | 493 | 424 | 146 | 25 | 1626 |
The following table shows the proportional age-distribution of the deaths in London classified
under the three headings—
| Age-period. | All ages. | Under 35. | 35- | 45- | 55- | 65- | 75- | 85 and upwards. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarcoma | 1,000 | 332 | 113 | 208 | 187 | 110 | 46 | 4 |
| Carcinoma | 1,000 | 32 | 110 | 228 | 294 | 232 | 92 | 12 |
| Cancer | 1,000 | 25 | 86 | 220 | 303 | 261 | 90 | 15 |
| Total | 1,000 | 49 | 102 | 223 | 290 | 235 | 88 | 13 |
In the report for the year 1904, a table was included showing the cancer death-rates in the
period 1901-4 in areas presenting different degrees of overcrowding,2 the object being to compare the
death-rates of population differently circumstanced in respect of social condition.
The following table shows the corresponding death-rates for the period 1901-5:—
| Percentage of overcrowding in each group of sanitary areas. | 1901-5'crude cancer death-rate per 1,000 persons living. | Standard death-rate. | Factor for age and sex correction. | Corrected death-rate per 1,000 persons living. | Corrected death rate (London, 1,000). |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 7.5 per cent. | 0.913 | 0.883 | .99003 | 0.904 | 980 |
| 7.5 to 12.5 per cent. | 0.916 | 0.864 | 1.01180 | 0.927 | 1,005 |
| 12.5 to 20 per cent. | 0.959 | 0.921 | .94919 | 0.910 | 987 |
| 20.0 to 27.5 per cent. | 1.005 | 0.904 | .96704 | 0.972 | 1,054 |
| Over 27.5 per cent. | 0.793 | 0.774 | 1.12946 | 0.896 | 972 |
| London | 0.922 | 0.874 | 1.00000 | 0.922 | 1,000 |
As was the case when the period 1901-4 was investigated there is no evidence from the figures
when treated in this manner that there is either direct or inverse relationship between cancer mortality
and social condition of the population. Further analysis of the figures for a longer period would be
necessary in order to establish this absence of relationship as a fact, but the figures available
show no indication of relationship between cancer mortality and social condition.
1 See footnote (') page 9. 2 See footnote (l) page 16.