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They also stated that above the age of 45 the risk of developing
Cancer of the Lung increases in simple proportion with the amount
smoked and it may be approximately 50 times as great among those
who smoked 25 or more cigarettes a day as among non-smokers.
Parnell has pointed out the tendency for Cancer of the Breast
and Uterus to be associated with one type of physique and that there
is evidence that smoking is more common in men of a certain
physical type. Further, it has been found that smoking and Breast
and Lung Cancer are associated with the same physical types and
that "smoking may act as a trigger to a gun constitutionally
loaded."
Many misconceptions regarding Cancer exist in the minds of
the public, e.g., that Cancer is an hereditary disease; that it is
infectious or contagious; or that chronic irritation or inflammation
causes Cancer. Not one of these assumptions has been proved
scientifically.
However, it is becoming more and more evident that under
certain conditions Cancer is a curable disease but at the moment
the most important factor is time. Unfortunately, many cases
are beyond cure before advice is taken. At the risk of producing a
few hypochondriacs it is obvious that greater efforts must be made
to educate the public as the latest available information supports
the fact that delay in seeking medical advice is becoming
prolonged.
Vascular Lesions of Nervous System.—This class, which
includes deaths arising from Cerebral Haemorrhage, Embolism and
Thrombosis, was responsible for a total of 91 deaths. The age
distribution was as follows:—1 between 5-15 yrs, 21 between
45-65 years, 33 between 65-75 years and 36 from 75 years
upwards.
Thirty-five deaths occurred in East-Greenwich, 21 in West
Greenwich, 2 in St. Nicholas, Deptford, and 33 in Charlton and
Kidbrooke.
Heart Disease.—Under the new classifications this disease has
been divided into three sub-headings: (a) Coronary Disease,
Angina, (b) Hypertension with Heart Disease, and (c) Other Heart
Disease.
The total deaths occasioned by these amounted to 291 compared
with a figure of 273 for 1950 and, as usual, the deaths from this