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1927
18
methods of diagnosis. But the number of deaths from cancer now
iis relatively higher in persons over 65 years of age than it
formerly was. In the 4 years 1906—1909, the total number of
deaths from Cancer was 190; of these 74 or 38 per cent were in
persons over 65 years of age. In the 4 years 1924 to 1927 the
number of deaths was 357—a very large increase; of this number
165 were in persona over 65 years of age, or 46 per cent of the
total.
A reference to Table I. will show a slight alteration in its
arrangement. In former years there was a column showing the
number of inquests which has been held. This year there is another
column showing the percentage of deaths certified by the coroner
after a post-mortem examination, but where no inquest had been
heid. The Coroners Amendment Act, 1926, came into force on
May 1st, 1927, and the Act makes many far-reaching amendments
relating to Coroners.
Under the Act a Coroner is empowered under certain
conditions to hold an inquest without a jury. This power was first
enacted by the Juries Act 1918, and continued by the Coroners
Emergency Provisions Continuance Act, 1922, and by the
subsequent Expiry Laws Act, until December 31st, 1927. This
proceedure now becomes a permanent practice.
Another inovation is the power given to the Coroner to
order a post-mortem examination to be made without the necessity
of a subsequent inquest. Under the Coroners Act, 1887, a postmortem
examination could only be directed if an inquest was to
be held. Under the new Act the Coroner can order a post-mortem
examination, and if as a result of such post-mortem examination
he is satisfied that an inquest is unnecessary, he simply sends a
certificate to the Registrar of Births and Deaths stating the cause
of death as disclosed by the report of the post-mortem examination,
and the Registrar makes, an entry in the register and issues a
burial certificate. The new powers obviate the necessity of holding
many inquests.
Last year 26 inquests were held, and 9 deaths certified by
the Coroner, after a post-mortem examination without holding
an inquest. 8 of these inquests concerned persons who were nonresidents.
Fourteen Inquests were held on residents who had
met their deaths outside the Borough, and two certified by a
Coroner without an inquest.
The total number of deaths of residents and in which an
. inquest was held was 33, and 11 deaths were certified by a
Coroner without an inquest.
Sir George Newman in his annual report to the Ministry
of Health draws attention to the increasing risk of life due to
motor vehicles. He states in that report that before remedies