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 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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10
Influenza.
The deaths from influenza during 1931 numbered 1,121, compared with 366
in 1930. The disease became epidemic in January, the deaths reaching a maximum
in the week ended 14th February, when they numbered 116. The total deaths from
influenza in the 13 weeks ended 4th April were 797. Influenza again became epidemic
towards the end of the year and in the second week of 1932 there were 145 deaths.
The age-distribution of deaths in both epidemics was almost identical, about 70 per
cent, of the deaths occurring among persons of 55 years and over.
Rheumatic
fever
The deaths in London from rheumatic fever in 1931 numbered 158, of which 66
were among children under 15 years of age. The corresponding figures in 1930
were 174 and 72 respectively.
Cancer.
There were 7,159 deaths from cancer in 1931 as against 6,908 in 1930, and 6,865
in 1929. The death-rate per thousand was 1.64. There was au increase of 81 in
the male deaths and of 170 among the females.
Ihe movement of the cancer mortality-rate in London at decennial intervals is shown in the following table. The approximate death-rates for the period 1929-1931 are based upon the census figures of 1931.
| Period. | Age group. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25- | 35- | 45- | 55- | 65- | 75-85 | |
| 1860-52 Males | 0.09 | 0.21 | 0.60 | 1.09 | 1.86 | 1.77 |
| 1860-62 Males | 0 09 | 0.28 | 0.73 | 1.45 | 2.23 | 1.85 |
| 1870-72 Males | 008 | 0.31 | 0.91 | 1.86 | 2.37 | 2.38 |
| 1880-82 Males | 010 | 0.39 | 1.20 | 2.55 | 3.81 | 3.51 |
| 1890-92 Males | 014 | 0.52 | 1.65 | 3.60 | 5.58 | 5.35 |
| 1900-02 Males | 0.11 | 0.45 | 1.72 | 4.34 | 7.47 | 8.26 |
| 1910-12 Males | 0.13 | 0.48 | 2 09 | 5.27 | 913 | 10.51 |
| 1920-22 Males | 0.12 | 0.50 | 2.01 | 5.70 | 10 05 | 12.49 |
| 1929-31 Males | 0.14 | 0.55 | 2 06 | 5.62 | 11.11 | 15.99 |
In the annual report for 1927 the results of an analysis of the London cancer
mortality from 1850 to 1922 were discussed (pages 16-24), and reasons were
given for the conclusion that among persons over 35 years of age the movements
of the mortality from 1850 onwards are, in the main, correlated with the year of
birth and not with progressive changes in conditions of life, and that, assuming the
same correlation to hold in the future, the female mortality at the younger ages
will continue to decline, while that of males will continue to increase. This trend
of the mortality-rates is, as will be seen from the above table, broadly maintained
in the figures for 1929-31.
The mortality from cancer among women between 35 and 65 years of age, who
were born in the period 1865-1877, has decreased by 12 per cent. upon those of
women born in 1835-1847; while the corresponding figures for males show an increase
of 27 per cent. The relative values of the various factors concerned in the
trend of the mortality from cancer cannot, however, be stated with any accuracy.
Tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis.
The deaths from tuberculosis of the respiratory system in London during 1931
numbered 3,907, giving a death-rate of 0.90 per thousand living, the corresponding
figures for 1930 being 3,826 and 0.87 respectively, and 4,230 and 0.96 for 1929.
There were 552 deaths from other forms of tuberculosis in 1931 as against
526 in 1930, the death-rates being 0.13 and 0.12, respectively.