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

Kensington 1927

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]

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Table: Causes of Death.—The following list shows certain causes of death which are important in themselves or from the fact that they contributed a considerable share to the total mortality for the year:—

Causes of Death.—The following list shows certain causes of death which are important in themselves or from the fact that they contributed a considerable share to the total mortality for the year:—

Cause of Death.Number of Deaths.
Principal Zymotic (or Epidemic) Diseases63
Epidemic Influenza109
Phthisis114
Other Tuberculous Diseases26
Cancer324
Bronchitis181
Pneumonia210
Heart Disease431
Bright's Disease61
Puerperal Fever4
Other Diseases and Accidents of Parturition2
Premature Birth29
Accidents78
Old Age129
All Other Causes679
2,440

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It will be seen that more than one-third of the deaths, or 936, were due to diseases
of the heart or the organs of respiration. Phthisis, an infectious or preventable disease,
caused 114 deaths.
The diseases described in the above list as the " principal zymotic diseases " are small-pox,
measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria, whooping-cough, enteric fever (including fever not otherwise
defined) and diarrhoea.

Table: The following table shows the zymotic death rate for London and Kensington in each of the last five years.

The following table shows the zymotic death rate for London and Kensington in each of the last five years.

Deaths from Principal Zymotic Diseases per 1,000 persons living.
Period.Kensington.London.
19230.690.60
19240.800.73
19250.460.59
19260.610.63
19270.360.41

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Cancer.—Cancer caused 324 deaths, and of this number 312 occurred in persons over the age
of 45 years. Carcinoma was the form of cancer to which 292 deaths were attributed; sarcoma
and epithelioma were the assigned cause of 15 deaths ; 17 deaths were certified as due to cancer
or malignant disease without further definition.
The parts of the body which were affected in each case are shown in the following table :—

Table: DEATHS FROM CANCER, 1927.

DEATHS FROM CANCER, 1927.

Parts Affected.Sex.Total.
Male.Female.
Buccal Cavity13215
Stomach, Liver, etc.414788
Peritoneum, Intestines, Rectum334073
Female Genital Organs...3434
Breast...3535
Skin224
Other and unspecified Organs462975
Totals135189324