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36
Influenza.—There were 2 deaths attributed to this cause
during the year compared with 4 for 1961.
Deaths from Violence.—These numbered 46 including 15
from Motor Vehicle Accidents, 14 from Suicide and the remainder
being accounted for under the heading of "All Other Accidents."
The number of deaths from Motor Vehicle Accidents was an
increase of one over that of the previous year while the figure for
Suicide increased by 5.
Accidents in the home are generally forseeable and therefore
preventable but legislation can play only a very small part in the
problem, namely, in ensuring the safety of all appliances used
domestically. Home safety is essentially a parental responsibility
and education of prospective parents in accident prevention should
be considered to be of major importance. Experience, which seems
to play a great part in enabling parents to anticipate and guard
against potential accident conditions, is a commodity difficult to
pass on theoretically.
Road accidents, which are now the commonest cause of death
in adolescents and young adults, are responsible for approximately
6,000 deaths and 60,000 serious injuries each year and the totals
are mounting. Whether epidemiology can be usefully employed
in this field is problematical. Some people are obviously unsuited
emotionally to be in charge of a car whilst others with minor
physical disabilities should perhaps be advised to give up driving.
Undoubtedly safety on the roads depends ultimately upon an individual's
ability to recognise and assess the responsibility which he
owes to the community at large.
Contrary to general belief suicide claims a formidable number
of victims. In England and Wales the number of suicides, approximately
5,000 annually, far exceeds deaths from tuberculosis and
is almost equivalent to the total of deaths from motor vehicle
accidents. In some countries which sustain high living standards
it has become a most important psychiatric problem.
Until recently, suicide remained a felony and attempted
suicide an indictable offence and a misdemeanour. It is interesting
to recall that until 1824, the original penalty for suicide was to
be buried at the crossroads with a stake through the heart. From
then onwards until the 1880's the penalty was ameliorated to one
of being buried in unconsecrated ground between 9 p.m. and midnight,
without ceremony. Confiscation of goods by the Crown
which constituted a further penalty was discontinued in 1870.
Society, presumably, has become mature enough to respond
constructively to suicide by providing the maximum of medical
care that these sick people require, for, with the introduction of