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— 19 —
Causes of Death.
The causes of all deaths are indicated in Table IV, in which
it is shown that the groups cancer, heart disease, bronchitis,
pneumonia and tuberculosis account for 91, 102, 55, 28 and 52
deaths respectively out of the total. Comment may here be made
regarding the first two of these principal causes of death.
Cancer.—In February, 1925, a report on Cancer was submitted
to the Town Council, and a copy of this was sent to each medical
practitioner with a covering letter soliciting assistance in the
education of the public and in the early diagnosis and treatment of
this disease. This report and letter are here reproduced.
" Pubuc Health Committee."
"report on cancer."
“Cancer differs from most diseases with which we have to
deal from a public health aspect inasmuch as we have no definite
knowledge of its actual cause and very little of its predisposing
causes. We possess a large amount of knowledge as to the mortality
from the disease, its pathology and geographical distribution, but
not much to assist in formulating fundamental principles to guide
us in adopting measures of prevention. It has to be recognised
that the cure of a disease may be accomplished without the actual
cause being known and that the discovery of the actual cause may
not always result in the discovery of a cure; but light thrown on
the cause almost invariably adds to our knowledge of the means
of prevention.
"In various directions a large amount of research work has
been, and is at present being done not only in this but in other
countries. Recent research work on cancer has received a great
stimulus and with co-ordinated efforts much may be done in
elucidating its cause and measures of prevention. Apart from the
various Cancer Hospitals and Cancer Departments attached to
General Hospitals, particularly associated with research regarding
cancer in this country are the Cancer Department of the Middlesex
Hospital, and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. The Ministry
of Health Departmental Committee was recently formed' to