[Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Winchester U.D.C. / City.
- Winchester (England). Urban District Council.
- Date:
- 1964
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: [Report 1964] / Medical Officer of Health, Winchester U.D.C. / City. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![Of the deaths, 333 were registered during the year, comprising of 14-8 males and 183 females, these figures show a considerable reduction on the numbers for the previous year. The corrected Death Rate of 9*0 per 1000 of the population is the lowest such rate ever recorded in the City and compares very favourably with the national figures* It is noted that once again heart disease, cancer and stroke account for approximately of the deaths. In. reference to this, it is of interest to read that in March 1964, a Presiden¬ tial Commission was appointed in the United States of America to draw up a realistic battle plan leading to the ultimate conquest of the three diseases, heart disease, cancer and stroke, which account for more than ~]0%> of the deaths in this country. Amongst the findings of the Commission it was stated that in America in 1962, the indirect cost resulting from these diseases was 3808 billion dollars, representing 9°6 million man years lost to gainful employment. Hence the magnitude of the problem, the solution of which is not going to be easy, and certainly not cheap. Vast expenditure and much frustration will of necessity, have to be faced if similar success is to be obtained on the lines achieved with other diseases by Preventative Medicine. Meanwhile, the fact remains that Coronary Disease and associated heart conditions accounted far over k-0%> of deaths in. Winchester in. 1964 with Vascular Diseases of the Nervous System being responsible in approximately 21%> of cases, and Cancer being the principle cause in about 18% of deaths. The lung is once again top of the list amongst the specific sites mentioned for cancer, there being twelve recorded deaths from long or bronchial cancer. This is closely followed by cancer of the breast and stomach. Most of the other causes of death show reduced figures compared with those obtained for the previous year, it being particularly gratifying to observe a fall from fourteen to six deaths resulting from bronchitis. Only 5o7% or nineteen deaths occurred amongst individuals below the age of 45 years, and of these, nine happened to be amongst infants urader twelve months. The incidence of infectious diseases, as ascertained from the notifications received, was also very slight, there being no outbreak of any great consequence. Most of the notifications were of sporadic cases and the only disease to afford anything like significant figures was measles. In all, 63 cases of this disease were notified and these may be considered as cases arising as part of or as a consequence of the periodic outbreak which occurred during the previous year. There was a marked decline in the incidence of cases of dysentery, but even though the number is small, the incidence of food poisoning continues to be noted. The number of cases of pulmonary and non-pulmonary tuberculosis shows little variation, except for the fact that the turn over of cases appears to be much more rapid^ In brief, whilst twenty one new cases were discovered during the year, it was possible to remove, for one reason or another, seventeen cases from the register. This, in turn, is no doubt attributable to the results of earlier diagnosis and treatment, particularly to the more widespread use of the Mass Radiography Unit.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30282676_0005.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
