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16
children. Fullskirted party dresses and loose flimsy garments require
special caution. Industry and science are co-operating in research at
processes which impregnate fabrics to render them flame resistant. They
cost more than the untreated material but increased demand might reduce
this. In some cases too they alter the texture of the material. Whatever
might be achieved on these lines however, must not be at the expense of
concentrating on the adequate guarding of fires.
On the prevention of scalding accidents, the summary reads,
"Although in some cases scalding accidents may be precipitated by the
shape, design and use made of the kitchen or by the form of domestic
equipment, it is nevertheless clear that the majority of incidents are due
to carelessness."
Deaths from Suicide
About twenty persons living in this district commit suicide each year.
This last year the figure was 18, eight men and ten women. Coal gas
poisoning was again far and away the most common method used, being
chosen by three men and six women. Poisoning came next, being the
method chosen by two men and three women. One man and one woman
used the railway. Drowning was the method chosen by one woman,
and hanging by one man.
There were only three occurrences in the first five months of the year.
The months with most cases were October and December.
All but one of the men were between forty and fifty-one. Eight of the
women were between forty and seventy; the youngest was twenty-seven
and the oldest eighty.
Deaths from Cancer
Of the 1,992 deaths of residents in this district, 414 were due to
cancer, this causing 22 per cent. of the deaths of males and 20 per cent. of
the deaths of females.
Of the 214 deaths from this cause amongst males, in 71 the site was
the lung, in 37 the stomach. Of the 200 deaths amongst females, the
breast was the site in 53, the stomach in 17, lungs in 11 and the uterus in
18.
The 414 deaths from cancer this year were much the same as the
number of the previous year (415).
Some little time ago it seemed that the numbers of deaths from cancer
were growing. Compared with the 1938 figures as a unit base, the comparative
mortality index for the first decade of this century was 0.85, for
the second 0·92, and for the third 0·98. The question was whether t this
increase was real or only statistical. This latter could come about for
more than one reason. It could be that because of the saving of lives at
earlier ages more persons were surviving to reach the age at which cancer
became a factor of importance. Another reason could be that because
more children were born in the years at the end of the last century and
the beginning of this than before then or since, apart from the saving of
lives in the earlier years, there were more people to reach the susceptible