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There were no maternal deaths.
The principal cause of death was once again heart disease (254 deaths),
especially coronary disease, while cancer of all kinds (185 deaths) was the
second greatest cause. The evidence collected by the Royal College of Physicians
and set out in their recently published report on "Smoking and Health,"
clearly establishes that heavy cigarette smoking is a cause of lung cancer
and bronchitis, and probably contributes to the development of coronary heart
disease and other illnesses, while atmospheric pollution is also suspected to
be a contributing factor.
In Wimbledon there was a big increase in deaths from cancer of the lung,
55 deaths occurring compared with 34 in 1960. Another factor of importance,
as will be seen in the analysis on page 8, is that although, as usual, the
highest number of these deaths occurred in men, the proportion of women dying
from lung cancer is increasing.
The tuberculosis death rate fell to 0.05 per 1000 population compared
with 0.08 in 1960. New notifications of pulmonary tuberculosis numbered 34,
an increase of 8 over the previous year. This increase in new notifications
was due to an outbreak of tuberculosis which occurred in a school outside
Wimbledon, but which was attended by pupils living in the Borough.
Ten deaths were recorded from motor vehicle accidents, this being 5 more
than in 1960. All other accidents accounted for 12 death3 as compared with 17
in 1960. Suicides totalled 9 cases as against 4 in the preceding year.
With regard to infectious diseases, the year was indeed a "measles year"
with the extraordinary contrast of 980 notified cases compared with only 18 in
1960. Apart from measles, which fortunately was of a very mild type, no other
disease was particularly prevalent. There was one case of poliomyelitis which
unfortunately proved fatal. This occurred in a young man who was admitted to
hospital shortly after returning to this country from abroad, where, there is
little doubt he contracted the disease. He had not been vaccinated against the
disease. No cases of food poisoning were notified, which reflects in seme
measure the success of the hygiene standards being maintained in the food shops
and eating places in the Borough.
Once again, and for the twelfth year in succession, Wimbledon was completely
free from diphtheria, but there were outbreaks of the disease in some unimmunised
children elsewhere in the country. Still a highly dangerous disease, it could
return at any time, particularly if the level of immunity among the population
is not maintained. It is therefore of the utmost importance that parents should
keep their children as highly imnunised as possible and for the initial
protection to be given in the first year of life.
Poliomyelitis vaccination continued to be offered throughout the year to
all persons up to the age of 40 years and certain other priority classes. In
June the Mobile Vaccination Unit which visited Wimbledon in the autumn of 1960
returned in order that those who attended the Unit for their first two
injections oould receive a third injection of vaccine. The opportunity was
also taken at this time to give as many first injections as possible.
(ii)