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
Woolwich 1902
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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82. The following table shows the death rate from Alcoholism and Cirrhosis of the Liver in the two past years : —
| 1901. | 1902. | |
|---|---|---|
| The Borough | 0.44 | 0.32 |
| Woolwich Parish | 0.74 | 0.61 |
| Plumstead Parish | 0.27 | 0.19 |
| Eltham Parish | 0.25 | Nil |
| River Ward | 110 | 0.86 |
| River Ward, South | — | 0.94 |
It is satisfactory to find some general improvement in the
death rate from intemperance. River Ward again has far the
highest death rate, and the improvement has been less there
than in the rest of the Borough.
83. An improvement in the death rate from Alcoholism has
accompanied the lessened death rate from Tuberculosis, and
the first is doubtless the cause of the latter. I find that in the
past seven years the three years that have the lowest rates
from Phthisis have also had the lowest rates from Alcoholism.
The following table shows that the parts of the Borough which have the highest mortality from Alcoholism have also the highest percentage of public houses :—
| Public and Beer Houses. | Total Houses. | Percentage. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Borough | 185 | 18,086 | 10 |
| Woolwich Parish | 110 | 5,441 | 2-0 |
| Plumstead | 62 | 11,292 | 0-5 |
| Eltham | 13 | 1,353 | 1-0 |
| River Ward | 61 | 2,112 | 2-9 |
84. Death Bate of Public Houses.—I have examined into
the deaths occurring in a group of Public Houses, chiefly to
find the incidence of Phthisis on such premises.