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68
[Appendix IV.
It appears, therefore, that the mortality at all ages in the Parish during 1900 was 61 per
cent, in excess of the mean mortality during 1875-79, and that at cancer ages 58 per cent, in
excess. In St. Mary the excess was 79 per cent, for all ages and 75 for cancer ages, and in
St. John 16 and 12 respectively.
To decide whether such increase has been a real one it is necessary to inquire—
(a) "Whether the increase has prevailed in each of the age-periods denominated as " cancer
ages"; and
(b) Whether such increase, if any,
(i.) be simply a feature of a general increase in the mortality at those ages; or
(ii.) due to transference of deaths from other less defined causes to cancer ; that is,
whether the increase represents an improvement in diagnosis.
For this purpose the age-group mortalities have been calculated for
(1) Cancer;
(2) All causes, excluding cancer; and
(3) (a) Certain selected causes with well-defined characteristics.*
(b) All other causes.
Finally (in Table 35) the mortalities for each age-group under each of the heads are contrasted,
the rates for the first quinquenuium in each case being taken as 100. This method is admittedly
imperfect, but the best available without the use of the diagrams.
A complete discussion of these tables would be beyond the scope of this report. It must suffice
to say that, while there has probably been some transference of deaths from less defined causes to
cancer, there has also been a real increase in the mortality from this cause. To a certain extent
such increase may be regarded as natural. One of the results of sanitation has been to defer the
day of death to more mature ages, i.e., to protect young lives from such diseases as the zymotic,
tubercular, &c., and to leave them to the accidents of old age, among which cancer probably ranks
first. If that be so, the question arises as to what will be the limit in the increase in this cause of
death. Happily, indications are not wanting to promise that the limit is nearly reached. As was
mentioned in connection with Table 34, a decrease in the mortality has been recorded in St. John
during the last 6 years. Similar checks in the upward curve of the mortality have been noted in
other towns, e.g., Eastbourne and Brighton, which it is hoped will be found to be permanent.
It has been suggested that cancer affects certain houses more than others, or, as it is popularly
stated, that there are cancer-infected houses just as there are tubercular. A record for 10 years will
neither prove nor disprove such suggestion, but it may be stated that it has been possible to allot
1,139 deaths out of 1,169 recorded during the decennium 1890-1900 to their homes (1,083 houses),
46 of the houses being credited with 2 deaths each and 5 with 3. The complete returns for the
two Sub-Districts are set out below :—

* The selected causes comprise : The principal zymotic diseases; tubercular diseases; apoplexy; heart diseases:
bronchitis and pneumonia: accidents and suicides.