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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
ext 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., and Diarrhoea, it was the greatest cause of
death at this age. Other illuminating and important causes of
death are Other Circulatory Diseases and 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, and was 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. Influenza
caused 71 deaths, an increase of 32 on 1936. The outbreak of
Typhoid Fever caused, in 1937, 16 deaths in males, and 19 in
females. In 1936 there were 4 deaths.
Comparisons with 1936.
There was a fall in the deaths from the Zymotic diseases excluding
Typhoid Fever and Diphtheria. In 1937 there were 5
deaths from Measles and 3 from Scarlet Fever. Whooping Cough
caused 5 deaths (15 in 1936), and Diphtheria 15 deaths (8 in 1936).
The deaths from Pulmonary Tuberculosis increased by 4 in 1937.
The number of deaths attributed to Cancer totalled 432 compared
with 428 in 1936. Deaths from Heart Disease increased by 21.
Pneumonia deaths showed a decrease of 6, and those due to
Bronchitis an increase of 6. Deaths from Digestive Diseases, including
Appendicitis, increased by 33. Deaths from Suicide and
Violence increased from 114 to 132.
The percentage of deaths under 1 years of age to total deaths
was 7.0%. Deaths under 15 years, 10.6% ; deaths under 65 years,
47.2% ; deaths over 65 years, 52.8%. The corresponding figures for
1936 were 5.2%, 9.4%, 45.5%, and 54.5%.