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
Marylebone 1920
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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42
and residence will be found in the table on page 73. As a result of obtaining
information as to the occurrence of the disease it was possible to visit early and to
arrange for nursing if this appeared to be necessary. The actual number of visits
paid was 1922 and of cases nursed 46. After recovery, or if death unfortunately
occurred, as soon as convenient thereafter, disinfection was carried out.
CANCER OR MALIGNANT DISEASE.
The number of deaths due to cancer was 14.6 and the death rate 1.43 per 1000
of the population. In 1919 the figures were higher, the total being 165 and the
death rate 1 *68 per 1.000 of the population.
Information with regard to the situation of the disease and the age at which
death occurred is given in the following tables:—
Cancer : Ages at Death
| Ages | Under 10 | 10 and under 20 | 20 and under 30 | 30 and under 40 | 40 and under 50 | 50 and under 60 | 60 and under 70 | 70 and upwards | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | - | 1 | - | - | 6 | 16 | 26 | 14 | 63 |
| Females | — | — | — | — | 10 | 24 | 22 | 27 | 83 |
| Totals | - | 1 | - | - | 16 | 40 | 48 | 41 | 146 |
Cancer.—Situation of the Disease.
| Parts of the body affected. | Males | Females | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face, Tongue, Jaw | 11 | 3 | 14 |
| Throat, Neck, Gullet | 15 | 2 | 17 |
| Stomach | 7 | 12 | 19 |
| Intestines | 11 | 12 | 23 |
| Liver | 5 | 6 | 11 |
| Breast | — | 22 | 22 |
| Uterus and Generative Organs | 2 | 14 | 16 |
| Various | 12 | 12 | 24 |
| Totals | 63 | 83 | 146 |
The following table, which was included for the first time in the Report for 1912 is repeated, as it lends further support to the view then expressed that cancer was in no sense a class disease, since if those who died at home or in nursing homes are taken to represent the rich or well-to-do, and those who died in hospitals or the infirmary the less favourably circumstanced, the one group suffered equally with the other.
| At Home | In Nursing Homes | In Hospitals | In Infirmary | In Asylums | Totals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | 26 | 6 | 12 | 22 | — | 66 |
| Females | 37 | 4 | 18 | 20 | 1 | 80 |
| Totals | 63 | 10 | 30 | 42 | 1 | 146 |