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reduction in the underlying causes (about which we are in any case not very
clear) or whether it is due to improved medical care.
INFLUENZA
The effect of the second wave of Asian Influenza showed itself mainly
in deaths from pneumonia and bronchitis. Deaths from influenza occurred
mainly in males, one being a boy aged one year and three middle-aged males.
LEUKAEMIA
The drop in Leukaemia deaths is very satisfactory, but I am unable to
account for it.
MALIGNANT NEOPLASMS
Deaths from cancer of the stomach has dropped, as have deaths from
cancer of the uterus. The first fall may be due partly to improved social
conditions, and the second is probably due to ante-natal and post-natal care.
NEPHRITIS AND NEPHROSIS
Since there has been an increase in recent years in the number of
cases of scarlet fever and tonsilitis, one might have expected an increase in
deaths from nephritis. The death rate however, remains steady and we can be
satisfied that our methods of control of scarlet fever are having some effect
in preventing this complication.
TUBERCULOSIS
The deaths were mainly in the middle aged, but two men aged between
35 and 45 died. A patient can endure and overcome pulmonary tuberculosis if
he or she co-operates fully with the Chest Physician, but many patients do not,
and I suspect that most of the early deaths occur in this type of patient.
In the latter part of 1958 the Chest Physician and I had to seek the
help of the Magistrates in order to compel a young woman to co-operate fully.
She has co-operated fully since, and is now living a normal and healthy life.
SUICIDE
The number of suicides has risen slightly and some of the successful
suicides were quite young, two aged between 25 and 35, and four between 35 and
45. There are obviously many people in the community bearing burdens which
they feel to be crushing them, who are not able to find the help they need.
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