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39
pain. In order to promote the early seeking of medical advice the
Council, with the Ministry's consent, set up a Tumour Diagnostic
Clinic in 1927 with a view to expediting diagnosis and treatment,
but despite this service the public were still reluctant in seeking
advice regarding unusual swellings, uterine bleeding, etc., and the
Clinic did not prove quite the success that had been anticipated.
Since the early 1920's the position regarding Cancer throughout
the country had been deteriorating and in 1939 the Cancer Act was
introduced. This Act required every County and County Borough
Council to provide adequate facilities for the treatment of persons
suffering from Cancer. The arrangements, including diagnosis,
treatment and payment of travelling expenses where necessary, had
to be approved by the Minister and the schemes were to be prepared
in consultation with governing bodies and medical and surgical
staffs of local voluntary hospitals and with representatives of local
medical practitioners Responsibilities of County and County
Borough Councils under this Act passed to the Regional Hospital
Boards in accoidance with the National Health Service Act, 1946.
In recent years there appears to have been an increase in the
number of deaths from cancer of the lung (including bronchogenic
carcinoma) although this cannot be substantiated statistically by
reason of the fact that hitherto this form of cancer has not been
classified in the Registrar-General's short list of disease classifications.
Undor the new classification of diseases adopted during
the year the latter defect has now been remedied and it will be
possible in future to compare yearly deaths from cancer of this
site.
Consideration has been given at various times to the question
of making malignant diseases notifiable, as in present circumstances
the only information available to a Medical Officer of Health is that
obtained from the death returns ; he, therefore, gains no knowledge
of the incidence of the disease, effect of treatment, recovery rates or
possible pre-disposing factors.
Vascular Lesions of Nekvous System.— This class, which
includes deaths arising from Cerebral Haemorrhage, Embolism and
Thrombosis, was responsible for a total of 82 deaths. Of this
number, 2 died between the ages of 25-45 years, 17 between 45-65
years, 28 between 65-75 years and 35 from 75 years and upwards.
Heart Disease.— Under the new classifications this disease has
been divided into three sub-headings: (a) Coronary Disease,
Angina, (b) Hypertension with Heart Disease, and (c) Other Heart
Disease, and in order that a comparison may be made with previous