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VITAL STATISTICS
General:
There were 31 more deaths in 1963 than 1962, an increase of
about 3%. The crude death rate increased by .42 per thousand the corrected
death rate by .21 per thousand. There was a slight fall in the
birth rate, and a marked fall in the still birth rate. The number of
illegitimate births went down both absolutely and in relation to total
births.
Cancer of the Stomach:
There were 29 deaths from cancer of the stomach in 1962, 28 deaths
in 1963. Again more men died from this disease than women, but it is not
possible to say whether the contributory factor was smoking, the consumption
of alcohol or some other irritant or irritants.
Cancer of the Lung and Bronchus:
There is little increase in the number of male deaths from this
disease - 66 in 1962, 67 in 1963. Deaths in women rose from 6 to 11, and
it seems probable that the lung cancer death rate will increase from now
on more sharply in women than in men. There is now no doubt that the main
contributory factory to the development of cancer of the lung or bronchus
in this country is cigarette smoking, with air pollution by other forms
of smoke playing a much slighter subsidiary part. About half of these
patients die before the age of 65. I am reasonably certain that at least
30 of them kill themselves by smoking cigarettes.
Cancer of the Breast:
I said that in 1962 this disease seemed to be coming slightly less
common in Edmonton. The number of deaths has in fact fallen from 29 in
1961, to 12 in 1963. Cancer is not winning every battle.
Cancer of the Uterus:
Though no screening programme has yet been offered to the women
of Edmonton, deaths from this disease are also showing a slight fall.
Figures for the last three years are 1961 - 11, 1962 - 7, 1963 - 6.
Leukaemia:
At last there is a fall in the deaths from this disease. There
was only 4 deaths from leukaemia in 1963 as against 9 in 1962.
Diabetes:
Deaths from diabetes was doubled, but only from 5 to 10. The
5 extra deaths were in women. Diabetes remains a weakening disease though
most diabetics can lead a normal life. More research in the causes of
diabetes are required. Only one infective cause so far, being incriminated:
the virus of mumps. This is not, however, thought to be the usual or main
cause, and the field for speculation, investigation and discovery remains
wide open.