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93
[1909
CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASES.
In this group of diseases are included those of a tuberculous character as
well as rheumatic fever, rheumatism, rickets, diabetes, gout, anaemia and one or
two others. Combined they caused 1,032 deaths, which is an increase of 69 on
the average of the preceding 10 years, after correction had been made for the
increase in the population, and they were equal to a rate of 2 94 per 1,000 as
against 323 per 1,000 in the decennium 1899-1908. The deaths from each
disease for these years, together with those for 1909, are set out in Table LXXII.
Cancer and malignant Diseases.—These diseases, next to those of a
tuberculous character, are undoubtedly the most important of the constitutional
diseases, and more especially so because they attack persons in the prime of life.
In 1909 they caused 353 deaths, which is an increase of 44 on the corrected
average of the 18 years 1891-1908, and were equal to a death-rate of 10.05 per
10,000 of the population, as contrasted with 8.8 in the years just mentioned.
The present rate is, however, practically the same as that experienced during
the preceding three years. It is to be regretted that since 1891 there has been
a gradual but very steady rise in the death-rate from these diseases, for an
examination of the figures given below shows that whereas in 1891 it was 6.8
per 1,000, in 1895 it was 7.9 ; in 1899, 8.0 ; in 1905, 9.5, and in 1909, 10.5 per
1,000, with varying rates in the intermediate periods.
Years Deaths
Deaths per
10,000 Pop.
Years Deaths
Deaths per
10,000 Pop.
1891 218 6.8
1892 219 6.8
1893 238 7.3
1894 239 7.2
1895 266 7.9
1896 291 8.5
1897 304 9.0
1898 283 8.4
1899 270 8.0
1900 303 9.0
1901 289 8.6
1902 320 95
1903 350 10.3
1904 323 9.5
1905 328 9-5
1906 363 10.5
I9°7 348 10.0
1908 367 10.3
Corrected – –
Average 309 8.8
1909 353 10.05
From 1891 to 1895 the deaths averaged 234 per annum; from 1896 to
1900,290; from 1901 to 1905, 323; and from 1906 to 1909 (4 years), 358,
These figures show how enormous has been the increase in the mortality,
which humanity is at present powerless to prevent.
Ages at Death.—The ages of the persons who died from cancer and
malignant diseases are fully set out in the statement given below, which shows
that now, as in previous years, their heaviest incidence occurred at the ages
above 25 years, and particularly in the period 55-75.