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

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East Ham 1905

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]

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18
The number of deaths from Cancer appears to be increasing
not only in the Borough, but also in the Country generally. It is
however, at present difficult to say how much of this increase is
real, and how much is due to more accurate diagnosis and also to
more accurate returns concerning the disease.
PUERPERAL FEVER.
Two deaths were registered during the year. Every case is
investigated, and I usually at once interview the Nurse attending
the case, and give full instructions as to disinfection.
ALCOHOLISM AND CIRRHOSIS OF THE
LIVER.
Eight deaths from Alcoholism and 10 from Cirrhosis of the
Liver were registered during the year.
It is, however, highly probable that these numbers by no
means represent the actual mortality due to the immoderate use
of alcohol. Many diseases are caused, directly or indirectly, by
alcoholic excess, and deaths are frequently registered as being due
to these diseases, instead of being attributed to the primary cause,
that is, alcohol. There is therefore a large mortality really due
to excessive drinking which escapes registration.
NOTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
1,473 cases were notified during the year. This equals a
rate of 11.9 per 1,000 of population.

The following table gives the number of notifications and the rate per 1 ,000 of population during the past five years :—

1901.1902.*1903.1904.1905.
No. of cases notified10681953106912561473
Rates per 1,000 of population11.118.79710.711.9
* Including 554 cases of Chicken Pox.