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21
cancer
"Cancer" : Borough.
Proportions (per cent.) of Deaths from Cancer to All Causes.
1909-13 97; 1914-18 9.5; 1919 8.8; 1920 11.3; 1921 12.8; 1919-21 10.0.
Number of Deaths from All Other Causes to each Death from Cancer.
1909-13 10.1; 1914-18 9.4; 1919 10.2; 1920 7.7; 1921 6.7; 1919-21 8.0
increased mortality from these malignant new growths would be obtained from a comparison
of the sex-age mortality fates. The necessary data for calculating reliable rates are at present
not available. It may be pointed out that the total number of deaths from causes other than
cancer has diminished and that the population of the Borough is increasing (but at a very low
rate) and that, therefore, the increase in the number of deaths from cancer is one of real
significance. There is one other fact which ought to be taken into consideration, namely the
possibility that the proportions of persons at the higher—i.e. cancer ages—ages of life may have
increased notably during the past few years. At present no evidence can be adduced to
support or controvert that possibility.
The 226 deaths recorded last year comprised 93 of males and 133 of females. Table IX.,
gives the sex-age distribution. Table XVI., Appendix, sets out the numbers of deaths during
the past year from the different forms of new growths which are included under the designation
of cancer, distinguishing the site and sex, also the sexes and ages of the deceased persons.
Designations such as "cancer" and "malignant disease" are to be deprecated in death
certificates. During 1909-13 deaths certified under such designations formed (on an average)
25.1 per cent. of all deaths from cancer, the proportion increasing to 25.7 during 1914-18. In
1919 the proportion was 22'8 per cent., in 1920, 11.3 with an average of 16.7 for the two years.
Last year the proportion was only 11.5 per cent., showing a very considerable improvement in
accuracy of diagnosis and certification.
The percentage of cancer deaths ascribed to carcinoma has increased from 60'6 per cent.
during 1909-13 to 626 during 1914-18, 73.3 during 1919-20 and 78.5 last year. As reported in
previous Reports, the greater part of the attacks are located in the digestive and reproductive
systems. (See below)

Other Diseases.
Respiratory Diseases.—The deaths from this group numbered 326 in all, 169 of males
and 157 of females. The sex-age distribution will be found in Table IX. The changes in
the Index Numbers for the individual diseases included in this group will be found in
Table IXa. The total for the group (326) compares favourably with the annual averages for
the two quinquennia 1909-13 (346), and 1914-18 (351), and with that for the years 1919-20
(339). Last year's total shows a reduction of 6 per cent. below the average for 1909-13.
Alcoholism.—The deaths from acute (delirium tremens) and chronic alcoholism
numbered 4 during the past year—3 of males and 1 of females—as compared with averages of
l1 (1909-13), 7 (1914-18), and 3 (1919-20). The deaths from cirrhosis of the liver, in the
majority of cases due to alcoholic excess, numbered 13—males 8; females 5—comparing
favourably with the annual averages for 1909-13 (15), and 1914-18 (19), but shows an increase
of 7 over the average (6) for 1919-20.
While the deaths from the above causes do not represent the full tale of the mortality
attributable to alcoholic excess, the combined total furnishes the best index of the damage to
the health of the nation from such excess at present available. The total number of deaths last
year was 17, as compared with annual averages of 26 during each of the quinquennia 1909-13 and
1914-18, and one of 9 for the (two) years 1919-20. While last year's total shows a reduction of
35 per cent. below the annual average for 1909-13, it is 88 per cent. above the average for
1919-20. The greater part of that increase is due to the increase in the deaths from cirrhosis
of the liver, the number of which (13) is 116 per cent. above the average (6) for 1919-20.