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
Wimbledon 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]
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The following is an analysis of the causes of death :—
| Cause | Males | Females | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Respiratory tuberculosis | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| 2. | Other tuberculosis | - | - | - |
| 3. | Syphilitic disease | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 4. | Diphtheria | - | - | - |
| 5. | Whooping cough | - | - | - |
| 6. | Meningococcal infections | - | - | - |
| 7. | Acute poliomyelitis | - | - | - |
| 8. | Measles | - | - | - |
| 9. | Other infective and parasitic diseases | - | 1 | 1 |
| 10. | Malignant neoplasm, stomach | 9 | 1 | 10 |
| 11. | Malignant neoplasm, lung, bronchus | 31 | 3 | 34 |
| 12. | Malignant neoplasm, breast | - | 6 | 6 |
| 13. | Malignant neoplasm, uterus | - | 3 | 3 |
| 14. | Other malignant and lymphatic neoplasms | 26 | 30 | 56 |
| 15. | Leukaemia | 2 | - | 2 |
| 16. | Diabetes | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 17. | Vascular lesions of nervous system | 34 | 56 | 90 |
| 18. | Coronary disease, angina | 51 | 49 | 100 |
| 19. | Hypertension with heart disease | 6 | 13 | 19 |
| 20. | Other heart disease | 21 | 58 | 79 |
| 21. | Other circulatory disease | 11 | 21 | 32 |
| 22. | Influenza | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 23. | Pneumonia | 12 | 6 | 18 |
| 24. | Bronchitis | 20 | 13 | 33 |
| 25. | Other diseases of respiratory system | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| 26. | Ulcer of stomach and duodenum | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| 27. | Gastritis, enteritis and diarrhoea | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 28. | Nephritis and nephrosis | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 29. | Hyperplasia of prostate | 11 | - | 11 |
| 30. | Pregnancy, childbirth, abortion | - | 1 | 1 |
| 31. | Congenital malformations | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 32. | Other defined and ill-defined diseases | 18 | 22 | 40 |
| 33. | Motor vehicle accidents | 5 | - | 5 |
| 34. | All other accidents | - | 11 | 11 |
| 35. | Suicide | - | 4 | 4 |
| 36. | Homicide and operations of war | - | - | - |
| Totals | 286 | 316 | 602 | |
MATERNAL MORTALITY
There was one death associated with child-birth during 1955 compared
with a nil return for the preceding year.
The cause of death in this case was haemorrhage, following incomplete
abortion (spontaneous) in a patient suffering from myeloid
leukaemia.
This maternal death was only the second which has occurred in
the Borough during the past six years.
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