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? means figure not available. *R.G. Code Nos. 19 and 20. †R.G. Code No. 21.
Lung cancer
The number of cases increased fairly considerably last year, to 121
(102 males, 19 females), from 89 the year before (76 males, 13 females).
The peak does not appear to be in sight. In spite of the now fully
accepted association between cigarette smoking and lung cancer (though
of course there are other factors, which probably include atmospheric
pollution in towns) the national habit of tobacco smoking seems to have
been unaffected and, as is well known, the total national revenue obtained
from duties on tobacco is in the neighbourhood of £700 million per
annum. There have been one or two seemingly half-hearted warnings
from the Ministry of Health, but it is likely that nothing far short of an
all-out campaign, directed especially to the school-leaver and the
adolescent, is likely to be effective. Chronic middle-aged smokers of 20
or more cigarettes a day can take a crumb of comfort from otherwise
depressing statistics in that, if they give up cigarette-smoking now,
for each year that passes their chances at that time of developing lung
cancer seem to be slightly but progressively reduced. It is always
possible that the carcinogenic agent in cigarette-smoking will be
identified and eliminated; meanwhile the danger continues, and the
individual smoker should review his habit afresh.
Deaths under age 65
Deaths under the age of 65 are of additional importance in relation
to the loss of productive manpower, this loss becoming all the more
serious as the population ages. During 1955 the proportion of those
dying under the age of 45 still further decreased, and reached a record
low of 7.1 percent. The comparison with the corresponding proportion
in 1911, the first year for which these records are available, namely
46.2 percent., is quite striking. In the last report, with regard to deaths
under the age of 65, I had to show a slight increase in the proportion
compared with the year before, but in 1955 this proportion again
decreased to a low record, namely 27.9 percent. This compares with
74.1 percent. at the beginning of the century.