London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Beddington and Wallington 1937

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Beddington and Wallington]

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The following table, which compares the actual death rate from Cancer in Beddington and Wallington with the corresponding rate for the whole country, shows how great the actual increase has been: —

Year.Number of Deaths.Death Rate per thousand of population.
Beddington and Wallington.England and Wales.
1915150.971.22
1916171.081.16
1917211.271.19
1918241.401.19
1919211.231.18
1920261.521.16
1921211.301.21
1922271.661.22
1923352.141.26
1924231.381.29
1925362.151.33
1926251.431.36
1927412.281.37
1928341.671.42
1929221.001.43
1930351.271.45
1931391.481.48
1932481.771.51
1933501.791.52
1934401.411.56
1935401.371.58
1936491.641.61
1937712.321.63

Again, however, one finds that deaths attributed to this group are
more common in the aged, and an analysis of the death returns shows
that the majority had passed middle life and some were of really
advanced age.
It cannot be too strongly emphasized, that if deaths from this
cause are to be reduced and the advantages of modern technique, both
in diagnosis and treatment, are to be used to the full, advice must be
sought in the very early stages of the disease. Delay is fatal, the
earliest symptoms should be noted and the family physician consulted
at once; only where this is done can a hopeful outlook be assured.
18