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The commonest cause of death in the Borough Is heart
disease, from which there were 288 deaths, followed by
cancer with 261 deaths. Cancer of all kinds is increasing,
with the exception of cancer of the breast and womb. The
death rate of cancer of the lung in males in Stepney,
9 per 10,000 population, is considerably greater than that
for England and Wales, which is 6 per 10,000 population
(see page 7).
No cases of smallpox or typhoid occurred in the
Borough, and only one case of diphtheria. No deaths
occurred from diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles or whooping
cough.
There were 3 cases of poliomyelitis, all of which
recovered.
The notifications of tuberculosis increased fronj 180
to 183, but there were 7 fewer deaths from the disease.
It is disappointing to find that, in spite of all the
publicity to encourage food hygiene, there were 23 cases
of food poisoning, the highest number notified in the
Borough.
Important new legislation made during the year was
the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954. and the Food and
Drugs Amendment Act, 1954, to which further reference is
made on pages 22, 33 and .36.
The unsolved problem of the helpless aged in our
midst is still with us, and no new legislation has come to
their aid. Unfortunately for them, they are unable to
force their claims on the attention of the public by means
of strikes official or otherwise, and so the headlines of
the press do not hum daily with the news of their grievances.
However, in fairness, it must be recorded that from time to
time special articles do appear in some of the newspapers
drawing attention to their plight. Heaven helps those who
help themselves, but the poor decrepit aged have few years
to live and little time and energy left to fight their case.
Meantime the value of their vote, unlike that""of the young,
is a diminishing asset in the field.
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