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15
Heart," and "Hæmaturea" are all further instances of loose certification,
for each of these conditions is a symptom of some malady the nature
of which can generally be determined and named on the certificate.
It will be noted that in Table A 2 a comparison of the number
of deaths from different causes in the years 1899 and 1898 is shown,
and that in 1899 a noteworthy diminution in the mortality from the
following conditions is manifest:—Diseases of Circulatory and
Digestive Organs, Whooping Cough, Diarrhœa, Premature Birth,
Wasting Diseases, and Accidents. On the other hand there was a
noteworthy increase in the mortality from Tubercular Diseases other
than Phthisis and Senility.
The relatively high mortalities from Diarrhœa, Influenza, and
Diseases of the Respiratory Organs are due to climatic and other
conditions favouring prevalence, and the increase has been felt
generally throughout the country. Much of the apparent increase in
Cancer mortality of late years is doubtless due to improved diagnosis
and certification, and must not be regarded as a real increase. Some
of it, however, appears to be due to a genuine increase in the
prevalence of the disease. This is a disquieting fact, seeing that
hitherto no one has been able to show in a satisfactory manner
what conditions predispose to or favour the appearance of cancer.