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have a higher incidence of coronary disease, it may not be simply due to
over-eating and too little exercise. It is quite possible that bacteria or
viruses may begin the process of fatty change in the arteries which leads
in time to angina.
BRONCHITIS AND PNEUMONIA
The third wave of the influenza epidemic was the most severe.
The number of cases of bronchitis and pneumonia rose only slightly from
131 to 135, but there was a change in the ratio of the two diseases. In
1958 there were 72 cases of bronchitis which lead to death and 59 cases of
pneumonia which were fatal. In 1959 there were 72 fatal cases of pneumonia
and 63 fatal cases of bronchitis. A number of younger people died from
pneumonia despite the many anti-biotics now available.
CANCER OF THE LUNG
There was no increase in deaths from Lung Cancer. The majority
of cases that caused death were again in men, since smoking even of cigarettes
is more a male weakness than a female one.
The real cost in money of a packet of cigarettes is practically
the same as in 1939, if the reduction in buying power of the 1959 income is
taken into account. The tax on tobacco should be at least double its present
rate, and should be progressively raised until it is as difficult to afford a
packet of cigarettes as half a bottle of whiskey.
HYPERTENSIVE HEART DISEASE
The deaths from this cause have risen in females. The rise is
mainly in the over 65's and respiratory infection may possibly have played
a part in the fatal heart strains.
INFLUENZA
Deaths from Influenza like those from Bronchitis and Pneumonia
are somewhat higher. Both males and females suffered, but there were
slightly more deaths in males.
LEUKAEMIA
There were more Leukaemia deaths but the figure was still below
that for 1957.
MALIGNANT NEOPLASMS
There was a marked rise in deaths from cancer of the stomach,
mainly in women. Cancer of the stomach is a cancer to which women are more
subject than men and it may be that the effects of female smoking will be
seen in an increase in cancer of the stomach rather than in cancer of the lung.
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