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
Carshalton 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Carshalton]
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Deaths from coronary disease of the heart continued to mount, a
further twelve such deaths bringing the total in 1959 to 88. All forms of
cardiac disease including the coronary variety, were responsible for 164
deaths, approximately 30% of the total mortality.
One of the great advances in medicine, particularly in the last decade,
has been in the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis. This is reflected
in the progressive and marked reduction in the deaths from this infection.
Mortality from this disease was down to the low record established in 1957 and is less than one-tenth of what it was only twenty years ago.
The figures which follow show the saving of life which has been effected since 1939 from what was once one of the worst scourges which in days gone by took such a heavy toll of young adults:
| Year | Deaths from Tuberculosis | Death Rate per 1,000 Population | Year | Deaths from Tuberculosis | Death Rate per 1,000 Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | 46 | 0.77 | 1950 | 13 | 0.20 |
| 1940 | 33 | 0.56 | 1951 | 21 | 0.34 |
| 1941 | 40 | 0.71 | 1952 | 15 | 0.24 |
| 1942 | 26 | 0.46 | 1953 | 13 | 0.21 |
| 1943 | 46 | 0.81 | 1954 | 14 | 0.22 |
| 1944 | 33 | 0.63 | 1955 | 3 | 0.04 |
| 1945 | 28 | 0.51 | 1956 | 8 | 0.13 |
| 1946 | 25 | 0.41 | 1957 | 3 | 0.04 |
| 1947 | 25 | 0.40 | 1958 | 9 | 0.14 |
| 1948 | 25 | 0.40 | 1959 | 3 | 0.04 |
| 1949 | 22 | 0.35 |
The distribution of tuberculosis mortality by wards and other details
are given in Section F of this report.
For the third year in succession there was no death from any of the
notifiable infectious diseases other than tuberculosis.
Violent causes acounted for the death of twenty residents. They were:—
Road traffic accidents 8
Accidents in the Home 3
Railway accident 1
Skin injury (infected) 1
Inhalation of maternal secretions 1
Suicide 6
Inquests
Inquests were held on 40 persons who died in the district. The following
verdicts were returned :—
Accidental death
Accident 4
Road Traffic 8
Fall 13
Inhalation of vomit 1
Misadventure 3
Suicide 7
Natural Causes 2
Open Verdict (drowning) 2
Eleven of the total were residents of the district.
15