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33
Cancer.
66. There were 82 deaths from Cancer compared with 84 in
1900. Twenty-three of the deaths were in Woolwich parish.
50 in Plumstead, and 9 in Eltham. River, Glyndon and
Eltham wards had the highest number of deaths proportionately
to population. All the deaths were over 25 years of ago, and
25 of them over 65 years. The rate per 1000 living was 0.70
in the Borough, and 0.93 in the County.
Lead Poisoning.
67. A death occurred from Lead Poisoning in a man who
was a store dispenser for some large contractor, and was in the
habit of giving out red lead. I found that the case had not
been notified to the Home Office, and consequently I sent a
circular letter to all medical practitioners in the Borough
reminding them that it was their duty to notify all cases of
Lead Poisoning to the Chief Inspector of Factories.
Alcoholism.
68. Alcoholism, or the effects of intemperance was certified
as causing 19 deaths, 17 being between 25 and 65 years of age,
and 2 over 65. Besides these, 33 deaths were attributed to
Cirrhosis of the Liver, which in this country is almost always
caused by Alcoholism. These 52 deaths may be attributed to
Alcoholism directly and wholly, or more than those due to
Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, Enteric Fever, Erysipelas, and Smallpox
altogether. But it must always be remembered that the
deaths certified as due to Alcoholism, even including those
from Cirrhosis of the Liver, are only a small proportion of those
which are really caused by intemperance either directly or
indirectly. These other fatal results of intemperance appear
under the heads of Suicide, Accidents, Kidney disease,