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
Hampstead 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead, Metropolitan Borough of]
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The following table shows the age distribution of the patients dying from consumption in Hampstead in the eleven years 1903-1913:—
| Year. | Age Period. | All Ages. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0—5 | 5—15 | 15—25 | 25—65 | 65— | ||
| 1903 | - | 1 | 14 | 46 | 5 | 66 |
| 1904 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 53 | 3 | 73 |
| 1905 | 1 | — | 12 | 57 | 3 | 73 |
| 1900 | 1 | — | 8 | 45 | 3 | 57 |
| 1907 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 45 | 3 | 61 |
| 1908 | — | 2 | 14 | 55 | 3 | 74 |
| 1909 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 37 | 2 | 53 |
| 1910 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 37 | 58 | |
| 1911 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 44 | 5 | 56 |
| 1912 | 2 | 13 | 45 | 2 | 64 | |
| 1913 | - | 1 | 4 | 39 | 5 | 49 |
| Totals | 9 | 12 | 119 | 503 | 41 | 684 |
It is clear from the foregoing that the majority of the deaths from
pulmonary tuberculosis occur fat the principal wage-earning periods of
life. The following table shows the deaths during the past eleven years
arranged in percentages at the various age-periods:—
Percentage to total
Age-period. pulmonary tuberculosis
deaths
0-5 1.3
5—15 1.8
15—25 17.4
25—65 73.5
65— 6.0
The enormous loss of life caused by tuberculosis has frequently
been remarked upon and needs no further comment from me. I would,
however, point out that since the Borough of Hampstead was formed,
i.e., during the years 1901—1913 about 8 deaths out of every 100 have
been attributed to this disease, or in round numbers no less than 1,130.