View report page

28
Comments on the Registrar-General's Table of Total Deaths by
Cause and Age and Sex.
The chief cause of death, both in males and females, was Heart
Disease, and its heaviest incidence was in ages over 45 years. The
next important cause of death was Cancer, which resembled Heart
Disease in causing most deaths in females and in its highest incidence
after 45 years. Pneumonia also exacted a heavy toll with a
higher incidence in males. The age period 5-25 showed the lowest
number of deaths from this cause. The fatality of Pneumonia
during the first year of life should be noted. With the exception of
the group of conditions, Congenital Debility, Premature Birth,
Malformation, etc., it was the greatest cause of death at this age.
Other illuminating and important causes of death are Other Circulatory
Diseases, which fell particularly heavily on women over 55
years. Tuberculosis, which was more fatal in the male sex, and
which, in both sexes, caused the highest number of deaths in
the young adult age period of 15-35 years, more specially in women,
was, with the exception of Pneumonia, the greatest cause of
death among the young adult population. Deaths from violence
were more numerous in men. Cerebral Haemorrhage and Nephritis
were a more usual cause of death in women than men, whilst
Digestive diseases, fell more heavily on men. Deaths from Zymotic
diseases were insignificant in number after the 2nd year of life.
To sum up, the most dangerous time of life up to the 45th
year is the first year: from 45 years onward the incidence of death
rises, fairly slowly at first, but rapidly after the 55th year.
Comparisons with 1935.
There was a rise in the deaths from the Zymotic diseases. In
1935, no deaths were recorded from Measles or Scarlet Fever. In
1936 there were 21 deaths from Measles and 2 from Scarlet Fever.
Whooping Cough caused 15 deaths (2 in 1935), and Diphthena
8 deaths (12 in 1935). The deaths from Pulmonary Tuberculosis
decreased by 16. There was an increase in the number of deaths
attributed to Cancer, from 326 in 1935 to 428 in 1936. Deaths
from Heart Disease, however, decreased by 31. Pneumoniadea;
showed an increase of 65, and those due to Bronchitis a decline of 1.
Deaths from Digestive diseases, including Appendicitis, decreased
by 31. Deaths from Suicide and Violence increased from 111 to
114.