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

View report page

Woolwich 1903

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]

This page requires JavaScript

51
unfortunately does not apply where most needed, viz.: public
houses. Notices requesting persous not to spit on the floor are
posted in the bars of nearly all the licensed houses in the
Borough. A letter was also sent to every landlord or manager
of a licensed house, calling his attention to the excessive death
rate from phthisis among public-house servants, due no doubt
chiefly to their dangerous occupation of sweeping the bar floors.
The necessity for wet cleansing was insisted on.
Spitting flasks. These are supplied in the Health Department
at cost price, viz : 6d. each. 23 were applied for during
the year.
Cancer.
102. There were 93 deaths from Cancer (malignant disease),
giving a rate of 0 75 per 1000, compared with 0 70 and 0 83 in
the two preceding years. There were 32 deaths in Woolwich
parish, 57 in Plumstead, and 4 in Eltham.
Thirty-nine of those who died were males, and 54 females;
13 were under 45 years of age, and 80 over 45.
The highest number of deaths proportionally to persons
living was at the age periods over 75, and the absolutely
highest number between 55 and 65.
The highest mortality was in Burrage Ward.
103. Two of the deaths from malignant disease were classed
as Sarcoma, one affecting the lungs, and the other the bladder.