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12
(A full list of the causes of the deaths and the ages at which they
occurred is given in Table IV. in the Appendix.)
HEART AND CIRCULATORY DISEASE.
The death rate from heart and other circulatory diseases showed a
slight increase on last year's figure, but as this group is largely composed
of deaths occurring in elderly people from what is really old age, the
increase in this rate is not regretted.
In 1949, as in 1947, 81 per cent, of deaths from heart disease, etc.,
were over 65 years of age at the time of death (i.e., 4 per cent, higher
than in 1948), while no less that 49 per cent. were over 75 years of age.
Of deaths from all causes 61 per cent, were over 65 years of age, which
is slightly less than last year.
CANCER.
The cancer death rate for the year 1949 was 1.73 which, although
an increase on the rate of 1.47 in 1948, is less than the rate for 1947, which
was 1.89.
This rate has tended to increase more or less steadily since 1920,
partly owing to better notification, but in part due to a true increase in
some forms of the disease. The 1949 rate is about the average for the
last four years and only slightly above the average for 1940-44, which
suggests that the tendency to increase is diminishing.
The following table gives the age, sex and distribution of the disease
in the 111 deaths which occurred during 1949. While the number of
cases of cancer of the lung remained unchanged, the number of cases of
breast cancer increased slightly, though not to the 1947 total. Emphasis
cannot, however, be laid too often on the need for early investigation
of any persistent lump in the breast, and attention is drawn to the ages
at which death occurred.