[Report 1971] / Medical Officer of Health, Taunton Borough.

  • Taunton (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1971
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1971] / Medical Officer of Health, Taunton Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Number of deaths from cancer of lung—England and Wales— 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 28,250 28,826 29,768 30,281 30,746 Comment on Vital Statistics The estimated population of the Borough showed a substantial increase of 1,230 to a figure of 38,640. This is an increase which has probably been brought to light largely by the recent census exercise. Once again the birth and death rates were rather lower than the corresponding figures for England and Wales as a whole. The Infant Mortality Rate, at 20 per 1,000 live births, was slightly higher than the figure of 18 for England and Wales, but the difference is not significant since a relatively small population is concerned. The illegitimacy rate fell from 11.0 to 8.0 per cent and it is hoped that this downward trend may continue. The highest number of deaths was, as usual, attributable to diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Many of these deaths involved elderly persons who had reached a good age, but it is disturbing that coronary disease which often strikes at those in the prime of life shows no sign of decreasing in incidence. The number of deaths from cancer of the lung was the highest yet recorded for the Borough and the national figures of deaths from this condition continue to rise. Three people were killed by motor accidents: the same number as in the previous year. REGISTRAR GENERAL'S TABLE OF DEATHS Cause of Death Male Female Total Tuberculosis of respiratory system 1 — 1 Other infective and parasitic diseases 1 1 2 Malignant neoplasm, oesophagus 2 3 5 Malignant neoplasm, stomach 5 6 11 Malignant neoplasm, intestine 5 9 14 Malignant neoplasm, larynx 1 — 1 Malignant neoplasm, lung, bronchus 19 5 24 Malignant neoplasm, breast — 12 12 Malignant neoplasm, uterus — 5 5 Malignant neoplasm, prostate 2 — 2 Leukaemia 1 — 1