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 1922
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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24
CAUSES OF DEATH.
Table 11, shows that 178 deaths were due to heart
disease, 166 to cancer, 163 to pulmonary tuberculosis, 123
to bronchitis, 116 to pneumonia, 80 to congenital debility
and 66 to influenza. Only 9 deaths were due to diarrhoea
as compared with 72 in the previous year.
Cancer and Malignant Disease. The deaths ascribed to
cancer or malignant disease each year since 1918 are shown
in Table No. 13:—
TABLE No. 13.
| Year. | Males | Females. | Total. | Rate. | Percentage of total deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | 58 | 72 | 130 | 0.88 | 8.39 |
| 1918 | 81 | 84 | 165 | 1.10 | 7.89 |
| 1919 | 76 | 81 | 157 | 1.15 | 9.35 |
| 1920 | 60 | 95 | 155 | 1.09 | 10.42 |
| 1921 | 76 | 106 | 182 | 1.34 | 11.42 |
| 1922 | 72 | 94 | 166 | 1.20 | 10.36 |
Cancer is one of the great causes of death of middle
age and later life. As will be seen from the above table
nearly 10 per cent, of the deaths of Woolwich occurring in the
last six years have been due to cancer and the percentage of
deaths over 45 is of course higher. There is little doubt that
many of these people, if they have gone to a doctor in good
time, would have been cured. The only cure for cancer known
at present is its early and complete removal by operation, but
the disease, if neglected and not removed in its early stages,
is always fatal. Even in incurable cases some degrees of
effective palliative treatment can be carried out if the requisite
medical aid is sought, and it cannot be too widely