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42
Disease was the most prominent member (375 deaths); the
majority of deaths in this group occurred over 65 years of age.
Rheumatism in childhood is indubitably a cause of cardiac breakdown
later on in life, more particularly if the original attack of
rheumatism has been missed or disregarded.
The strenuous nature of modern life, with its hurry and unrest
bears hardly upon hearts which are not structurally sound, leading
to breakdowns which, if the pace had been slower, would have
functioned for years longer.
Arterio-sclerosis (85 deaths) is the second big cause of death in
this group. This is a thickening, and diminution in the elasticity,
of the walls of the arteries and is an expression either of prolonged
stress or unwise living which, if continued, leads to a final rupture
of the walls of the vessel—most often in the brain—leading to
Cerebral Haemorrhage, which caused, incidentally, 151 deaths.
Arterio-sclerosis and Cerebral Haemorrhage between them caused
236 deaths.
Measles was the most fatal infectious disease; all the deaths
occurred under 15 years. Diphtheria came second and all the deaths
were under 15 years of age. There is still an inadequate appreciation
on the part of parents of the urgent necessity for immediate
medical advice and treatment in the common infectious ailments of
childhood.
POPULATION.
Explanation of Graphs.
The estimated population is shown by a continuous black line
from 1860 onwards, the letter C denoting a census year. In 1860
Croydon's population was a little over 30,000; in 1930 it is estimated
by the Registrar General to be 222,300. If, however, the
average yearly rate of increase is applied to the 1930 population,
the figure would have been 222,800. The statistics have been calculated,
however, on the Registrar General's figure. The growth
of Croydon has been rapid and continuous; even during the war
years the increase was not arrested, whilst since the war its growth
has been even more rapid. Such an increase of population gives
rise to problems of its own from Public Health aspects; additionally
inhabitants do not always appreciate that within a space.of 60 years
their town has grown from a village to one of the great and important
centres of England. With the extension of civil aviation,
Croydon's importance is likely to become greater each year. The
trend of industrialism to the south is also exerting a prominent
influence.