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81
were only two cases of cancer of the mouth or tongue who
did not smoke; one of these had bad teeth. There were 5
cases of cancer of the larynx and oesophagus who did not
smoke, but one chewed. Among the non-cancer cases all
the smokers smoked pipes (23 clay and 16 briar), except
one who smoked cigarettes. Of cases with cancer of other
parts than the mouth and throat, 20 per cent. took alcohol
excessively, and 23 per cent. smoked excessively. It would
appear then that both alcohol and smoking have some little
general effect in promoting canoer, but chiefly exert their
injurious influence locally.
20 cases had cancer of the stomach. Of these 4, or 20
per cent., drank excessively, 8, or 40 per cent., were large
eaters, and 5, or 25 per cent., were large meat eaterts.
Comparing these figures with the non-cancer cases, it is
seen that, though the percentage of large eaters is no greater
in canoer of the stomach, the percentage of small eaters is
much smaller, the large number of moderate eaters accounting
for this somewhat anomalous result.
As regards cancer of the bowels, out of 25 persons dyingfrom
cancer of the intestines (viz., colon, 6; rectum, 17;
and undefined, 2), 14 had a regular daily action, 10 had
constipation, and 1 was not quite regular. Thus constipation
seems to predispose to canoer of the bowels.
ALCOHOLISM.
88. There were 4 deaths from alcoholism, 3 from peripheral
neuritis, and 11 from cirrhosis of the liver, making
a total of 18 deaths probably due to alcohol, compared with
24, 23, 23, 31, and 23, in the five preceding years. In
addition to these, there were 429 deaths from diseases of
f