London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Wimbledon 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]
This page requires JavaScript
The four principal causes of death were as follows:—
Percentage
of total deaths
Diseases of the heart and circulatory system 38%
Vascular lesions of nervous system 12%
Cancer 21%
Diseases of the respiratory system 9%
Total 80%
The following is an analysis of the causes of death:—
| Cause | Males | Females | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Respiratory tuberculosis | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 2. | Other tuberculosis | 1 | — | 1 |
| 3. | Syphilitic disease | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 4. | Diphtheria | — | — | — |
| 5. | Whooping cough | — | — | — |
| 6. | Meningococcal infections | — | — | — |
| 7. | Acute poliomyelitis | 1 | — | 1 |
| 8. | Measles | — | — | — |
| 9. | Other infective and parasitic diseases | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 10. | Malignant neoplasm, stomach | 6 | 9 | 15 |
| 11. | Malignant neoplasm, lung, bronchus | 22 | 7 | 29 |
| 12. | Malignant neoplasm, breast | — | 18 | 18 |
| 13. | Malignant neoplasm, uterus | — | 1 | 1 |
| 14. | Other malignant and lymphatic neoplasms | 36 | 30 | 66 |
| 15. | Leukaemia, aleukaemia | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 16. | Diabetes | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 17. | Vascular lesions of nervous system | 31 | 48 | 79 |
| 18. | Coronary disease, angina | 57 | 44 | 101 |
| 19. | Hypertension with heart disease | 6 | 13 | 19 |
| 20. | Other heart disease | 25 | 57 | 82 |
| 21. | Other circulatory disease | 12 | 21 | 33 |
| 22. | Influenza | 1 | — | 1 |
| 23. | Pneumonia | 8 | 11 | 19 |
| 24. | Bronchitis | 23 | 8 | 31 |
| 25. | Other diseases of respiratory system | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 26. | Ulcer of stomach and duodenum | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 27. | Gastritis, enteritis and diarrhoea | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 28. | Nephritis and nephrosis | — | 4 | 4 |
| 29. | Hyperplasia of prostate | 12 | — | 12 |
| 30. | Pregnancy, childbirth, abortion | — | — | — |
| 31. | Congenital malformations | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 32. | Other defined and ill-defined diseases | 19 | 21 | 40 |
| 33. | Motor vehicle accidents | 5 | — | 5 |
| 34. | All other accidents | 8 | 5 | 13 |
| 35. | Suicide | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| 36. | Homicide and operations of war | - | - | - |
| Totals | 296 | 323 | 619 | |