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(A full list of the causes of the deaths and the ages at which
they occurred is given in Table IV. in the Appendix.)
HEART AND CIRCULATORY DISEASE.
The death rate from heart and other circulatory diseases,
4.79, was slightly higher than in 1949, but as this group is composed
chiefly of elderly people dying virtually of old age, this
increase is not regrettable.
In 1950, as in 1949, 81 per cent of deaths from heart
disease, etc. were over 65 years at the time of death, while no
less than 49 per cent were over 75 years of age. (69 per cent
of deaths from all causes were over 65 years, which is 8 per cent
more than last year).
CANCER.
The cancer death rate for the year 1950 was 1.84 compared
with 1.73 last year, and an average of 1.75 since the war.
This rate has tended to increase more or less steadily since
1920, partly owing to better notification, but in part due to a
true increase in some forms of the disease. While the 1950 rate
is above the average for the last five years, it is lower than the
corresponding rate for 1947, hence it would not be wise to deduce
any important trend from this isolated figure.
The following table gives the age, sex and distribution of
the disease in the 115 deaths which occurred during 1950. The
number of cases of cancer of the lung again increased, but the
number of cases of breast cancer remained the same. Emphasis is,
however, again laid on the need for early investigation of any
persistent lump in the breast, and attention is drawn to the ages
at which death occurred.
Similarly medical opinion should be obtained on any
persistent lump, pain or abnormal haemorrhage. The relief
obtained from a negative finding is almost as important as is
an early diagnosis.
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