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For the full list of causes of Death, and the ages at which the deaths
occurred, see Table IV in the Appendix.
It will be seen that the chief causes of death in the District were
Heart and other circulatory diseases (including Cerebral Haemorrhage)
149, and Cancer 87, followed by Violence (including Suicide) 33, Pulmonary
Tuberculosis 21, Influenza 20, and Pneumonia (all forms) 16.
HEART DISEASE, etc.
The percentage of deaths due to heart and other circulatory diseases
was rather less than in the two previous years, although constituting
approximately one-third of all deaths.
As has been previously stated, in so far as this group includes deaths
in elderly persons from what is really old age, it is hoped that the
proportion of deaths coming under this heading will increase.
This year 73 percent. were over 65 years of age at the time of death,
while 45 percent. were over 75 years of age, these figures representing
increases of 1 percent. and 5 percent. over the corresponding figures
for 1936.
Of the 27 percent. which were under 65 years of age, only about
4 percent. were connected with Rheumatism, the chief cause of heart
disease in the young, or were congenital in origin. It is probable, however,
that Rheumatism was responsible for the original damage in a
much larger proportion, although not mentioned in the Death Certificate.
Once again about one-fifth of this group of deaths was in respect
of persons under 65 years of age, in whom the postponement of death
might reasonably have been expected had undue strain or excess been
avoided.
CANCER.
In 1937, Cancer produced 18.9 percent. of the total deaths as compared
with an average of 17.5 for the preceding four years. Considered
in relation to population, the Cancer Death Rate was 1.61 per thousand
of population in 1937, and 1.36, 1.28, 1.49 and 1.30 in the preceding
four years, corresponding figures for England and Wales being 1.63
for 1937, 1.61, 1.58, 1.56 and 1.52.
As the average annual Cancer Death Rate locally was 1.13 per
thousand of population from 1915-24 and 1.26 from 1925-34, while
that for England and Wales was 1.21, and 1.44, it will be seen that an
increasing proportion of deaths is being attributed to this disease.
While in part this is due to better notification and diagnosis, this proportion
is such that increasing effort is required to reduce this too
common cause of death.
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The following Table gives the age, sex and distribution of the disease
in the 87 deaths which occurred during 1937:—