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

Harrow 1937

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]

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10
Deaths from tuberculosis, both pulmonary and non-pulmonary
forms, were fewer than those in the previous year. The death
rate per 100,000 population of 50.8 was well below the figure of
69.2, recorded for the country as a whole in 1936.
The infant mortality rate was exceptionally low, being only
35.5 compared with the figure of 58 for England and Wales and
62 for the Great Towns. The local figures for the years 1934 to
1936 were 47, 42.1 and 44.9. The rise in the 1936 figure was
attributed to the prevalence of influenza in the latter part of the
year. This epidemic continued into the earlier weeks of 1937 and
caused fatalities, including some of infants under one year of age.
The maternal mortality rate was 4.07 compared with local
figures for the years 1934 to 1936 of 5.99, 3.46 and 4.02, and a figure
of 3.11 for England and Wales.

Table: The following is an analysis of the affected sites, being the proportional frequency of sites of cancer expressed as a rate per 1,000 of all deaths from cancer, the international grouping being used, and the figures for England and Wales for the year 1936 being included for purposes of comparison : —

The following is an analysis of the affected sites, being the proportional frequency of sites of cancer expressed as a rate per 1,000 of all deaths from cancer, the international grouping being used, and the figures for England and Wales for the year 1936 being included for purposes of comparison : —

International Group Number.Proportional Rate per 1,000.
Local.England and Wales.
Male.Female.Male.Female.
45. Lip, tongue, etc10249715
46. Stomach180181225166
Rectum1007010759
Other abdominal270220274261
47. Respiratory1902411332
48. Uterus—94—133
49. Ovary, etc.—24—58
50. Breast—2353201
51. Urogenital1305511773

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There were 18 suicidal deaths (13 male and 5 female) during
the year, giving a rate of 100,000 population per 10.3 compared
with a figure of 12.7 for the country as a whole for 1936. The
commonest method was the use of coal-gas (6 male and 3 female),
cut throat and the railway track being the next most common (3
male in each case). Poisons (arsenic and hydrogen cyanide) were
used by two.
Of the 55 (37 male and 18 female) other deaths from violence
30 were due to road accidents of which 13 were of pedestrians.
Falls of elderly persons accounted for 6 deaths.