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 1923
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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In the following table the mortality from cancer in London is shown for each age and sex for the principal age-groups affected, for three-year periods to which each successive census in and since 1851 is central:-
| Period. | Ages. | Total of rates. | Females. M=100. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25- | 35- | 45- | 55- | 65- | 75-85 | ||||
| 1850-52 | Males | 0.09 | 0.21 | 0.60 | 1.09 | 1.86 | 1 .77 | 5.62 | 195 |
| 1860-62 | Males | 0.09 | 0.28 | 0.73 | 1.45 | 2.23 | 1.85 | 6.63 | 182 |
| 1870-72 | Males | 0.08 | 0.31 | 0.91 | 1.86 | 2.37 | 2.38 | 7.91 | 172 |
| 1880-82 | Males | 0.10 | 0.39 | 1.20 | 2.55 | 3.81 | 3.51 | 11.56 | 147 |
| 1890-92 | Males | 0.14 | 0.52 | 1.65 | 3.60 | 5.58 | 5.35 | 16.84 | 124 |
| 1900-02 | Males | 0.11 | 0.45 | 1.72 | 4.34 | 7.47 | 8.26 | 22.35 | 107 |
| 1910-12 | Males | 0.13 | 0.48 | 2.09 | 5.27 | 9.13 | 10.51 | 27.61 | 88 |
| 1920-22 | Males | 0.12 | 0.50 | 2.01 | 5.70 | 10.05 | 12.49 | 30.87 | 83 |
| Rates 1920-22 (1850-52= 100) | |||||||||
| Males | 125 | 238 | 335 | 523 | 540 | 706 | 549 | ||
The table shows that there has been a much greater increase among males
than among females. It may be stated roundly that the mortality for the ages
shown has increased among males five-fold since 1851, while among females the
present rate is less than two-and-a-half times that of 1851. It will be noticed also
that in the past 20 years the female mortality at ages below 65 years has decreased,
and that above that age, especially in the age-group 65 to 75, there has been a
considerable diminution in the rate of increase. The figures shown in the last
column of the table enable an approximate comparison to be made of the total
incidence of mortality upon the two sexes, and it will be observed that taking the
sum of the male rates shown as 100, that of the females in 1851 was 195, while now
it is 83.
The proportion of deaths from cancer which occurred in institutions (Poor
Law institutions, lunatic asylums, hospitals and nursing homes) is much higher
in London than in the rest of England and Wales. The figures for 1911 and 1920
are shown in the following table :—
1911. 1920.
Place of Death. London. Rest of England and Wales London. 1920.
Males. | Females. Males. Females. Males. Females. Males. Females.
Institutions 54 .0 39.8 25.2 16.1 47.8 27.4 19.1
Elsewhere 46.0 | 60.2 74.8 83.9 43. 0 52.2 72.6 80.9
Much speculation has been indulged in as to the cause of cancer. One certain
fact, however, seems clear, namely, that cancer frequently follows a chronic or
prolonged irritation affecting certain sites in the body. Hereditary pre-disposition
to cancer has not at present been proved to be of any practical importance in man,
nor has it been shown that increased danger of cancer results from inhabiting houses
or districts in which the disease happens to have been more than usually common.
It cannot be too strongly urged that the only present hope of mitigating the
effects of the disease in individual persons is by recourse to medical treatment at
the very earliest suspicion of any abnormal condition which may be the precursor
of malignant disease.
A memorandum addressed by the Ministry of Health (Circular 426, 14th August,
1923) to all local authorities in England and Wales summarised the present know-