London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Barking 1937

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]

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16
It is to be noted with satisfaction that over one-fifth of the deaths were in
respect of persons of 75 years and over, and that the age group 65 to 75 years,
likewise, accounts for over a fifth.

Those diseases, etc., causing most deaths or important from a public health aspect were as follows:—

Disease.No. of Deaths.Percentage of total net deaths registered.
Cardio-vascular system16527.50
Cancer8614.33
Tuberculosis (all forms)437.17
Pulmonary affections (exclusive of tuberculosis), viz., Bronchitis254.17
Pneumonia (all forms)315.17
Other respiratory diseases101.66
Zymotic Diseases172.83

(d) Deaths from Zymotic Diseases.—These diseases caused 2.83 per cent, of the total deaths, such deaths being caused in the following numbers

Enteric Fever2
Measles
Whooping Cough1
Scarlet Fever
Diphtheria5
Diarrhœa9
Smallpox

I should like to comment upon the 5 deaths from diphtheria, because I do feel
that, where we have such a readily available and an effective method of reducing
the number of deaths, the public ought to take a greater interest than they do in
diphtheria immunisation.
At the same time I want to make it quite clear that Barking does not stand in
an unfavourable position. The death rate for diphtheria in Barking, per thousand
population, is exactly the same as that for England and Wales as a whole, which
having regard to the fact that Barking has a relatively large child population is a
matter for satisfactory comment. The reason why it is so satisfactory is, I believe,
because on the whole you get diphtheria admitted to your hospital, not of course so
early as could be wished, but at least relatively early, when compared with other
areas. However satisfactory this condition may be, I cannot help feeling that it
is not really satisfactory, whilst any stone is left unturned which could reduce this
death rate.