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DEATHS
The deaths allocated to the district, as adjusted by inward and outward
transferable deaths, was 524—276 males and 248 females. This gives a
crude death rate of 8.5 per thousand population as against 7.8 in the year
before. The "comparable" death rate produced by the application of the
Registrar-General's comparability factor of 1.3 to allow for differences in
the age and sex constitution of the local population as compared with the
the country as a whole was 11.0. The rate for England and Wales was 11.7.
The distribution of the deaths by wards was as follows:—

The death rate from cancer fell from 1.72 to 1.57 the fall being more
than accounted for by a reduction in deaths from this disease among males.
Cancer of the lung though less than in the year before, was responsible for
nearly one fifth of the total cancer deaths. Careful investigation in recent
years has established beyond doubt that excessive smoking over a long
period is one of the causes of cancer of the lung. Statistical researches in
several countries abroad have provided similar conclusions to those in this
country. Whilst the individual is and should be entitled to incur this risk
if he so chooses, the subjection of those not wishing to do so to the dangers
of a tobacco smoke-laden atmosphere in places of public assembly, entertainment
and travel is much less defensible. The number of deaths from
cancer of the lung since 1934 when such figures were first available are as
follows:—