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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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16
Cancer or Malignant Disease:—The number of deaths due to cancer was
180 and the death-rate 1.98 per 1,000 of the population. The figures for 1937 were
179 and 1.95 per 1,000 respectively.
Information with regard to the age at which death occurred and the situation
of the disease is given in Tables 11 and 12.
TABLE 11.
Cancer : Ages at Death.
| Ages. | Under 1. | 2 and under 5. | 5 and under 15. | 15 and under 25. | 25 and under 35. | 35 and under 45. | 45 and under 55. | 55 and under 65. | 65 and under 75. | 75 and upwards. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 11 | 17 | 30 | 14 | 77 |
| Females | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | 14 | 25 | 42 | 15 | 103 |
| Totals | — | — | — | — | 4 | 8 | 25 | 42 | 72 | 29 | 180 |
TABLE 12.
Cancer : Situation of the Disease.
| Parts of the body affected. | Males. | Females. | Totals. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face, Tongue, Jaw | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| Throat, Neck, Gullet | 13 | 3 | 16 |
| Stomach | 14 | 13 | 27 |
| Intestines | 13 | 16 | 29 |
| Liver | 3 | 10 | 13 |
| Breast | 25 | 25 | |
| Uterus and Generative Organs | 4 | 18 | 22 |
| Various | 23 | 16 | 39 |
| Totals | 103 | 180 |
It is a commonly accepted fact that the number of deaths due to cancer is,
over a long period, showing a definite tendency to increase. No reason, generally
acceptable, to explain this has as yet been put forward, nor has any theory to account
for the occurrence of the disease, to which the medical profession as a whole can
subscribe, been submitted. One point upon which there is general agreement,
however, is with regard to the importance, advisability and advantage of early
treatment. Of the accuracy of the advice, now so widely given that there should
never be any delay in seeking an authoritative opinion in any case of doubt and in
securing treatment, there can be no question.
•
Accident, Suicide and Manslaughter:—Accidental or violent deaths during
1938 numbered 58. Of these 21 were due to suicide.