View report page

46
deaths in this group consistently constitute approximately half
the deaths attributed to lung cancer. At present the trends in
Greenwich with regard to lung cancer closely follow those discernable
in ths national figures. Since 1950 the numbers dying from
cancer of the lung in England and Wales has doubled to the current
figure of 25,371 giving a rate of 0.54 per thousand of the population
and indicating an increase of four per cent over the figure for 1963.
In Greenwich, for the same period, the numbers have advanced
from 26 to 61, equivalent to a rise of approximately 135 per cent
in 15 years. The present Borough rate of 0.73 is still slightly less
than that for London, viz. 0.74, but 0.16 higher than the average
for the last ten years.
Statistics contained in the Registrar General's latest Review
show that, in England and Wales, the increase in deaths from lung
cancer among men under 45 years was greater in rural areas than
in the towns. Among women in the same age group the rise was
really significant, the percentage increases being 65 for rural areas
and 16 for cities. Following upon evidence of a rise in tobacco
consumption, especially by women, and the marked advance of
deaths from cancer of the lung in rural areas and in females in
particular, it is difficult to resist the conclusion that cigarette
smoking rather than atmospheric pollution is the causative agent.
Whereas in recent years the death rate of tuberculosis has
shown a remarkably rapid decline, that for cancer of the lung has
risen, one might say almost correspondingly, and the epidemic
proportions of this disease become more apparent each year.
The observation that cancer is "man made" may not be completely
true but, since the adoption by man of tobacco as his main
tranquillizer, he has certainly embraced a very ambiguous friend
for there is no reasonable doubt that, but for the smoking habit,
the number of deaths from lung cancer would be almost insignificant.
Nevertheless, despite the strength of all the accumulated evidence
incriminating cigarette smoke as a cause of lung cancer, the
consumption of tobacco in this form continues unabated. Facts
concerning substantial increases in "smoking assisted" diseases such
as bronchogenic carcinoma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, peptic
ulcer, circulatory disease and coronary thrombosis have failed to
make any permanent impression on the confirmed smoker, who,
in continuing to fill the air at home, in the office, workshop,
train, bus or plane with obnoxious fumes and ash, neglects the
most elementary rules of hygiene and makes exertions for a
cleaner atmosphere under the Clean Air Act, a sham.
Tirades about atmospheric pollution from factories and diesel
fumes is so often the method used by addicts to counter antismoking
propaganda that it comes somewhat as a relief to learn