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24
Reference to the Table which dissects the cause of death in age groups,
shews that Cancer in its various forms (Nos. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15) is
responsible for 216 deaths in 1953, and 226 deaths in 1954. In 1950 the
total was 248, in 1951 it was 283, and 259 in 1952, so that this "Killer"
disease is declining somewhat in importance in total destructive power.
Yet throughout the years under review cancer of the lung holds a high place
with about 50 deaths each year, and shows little tendency to decline, in
spite of early diagnosis undoubtedly available now far more readily than in
former years, and the application of radical surgery in attempts at early
extirpation of the disease.
One great educative measure, however, could be pressed home in the
schools and by wise parents. No smoking should be the unvarying and unswerving
rule for all scholars and all adolescents. The habit acquired
young, usually in the boy as a result of wanting to feel big like Daddy,
and in the girl of wishing to appear sophisticated, is not easily shed in
adult life, and the adolescent who Is supported in resistance to the
acquisition of this dirty, useless, extravagant habit, is much more likely
to remain a non-smoker throughout life, and greatly lessen the chance of
developing lung cancer in middle life.
There should be a reorientation in the way smoking is viewed to-day.
This habit should be classed among the drug addictions and rank with
alcoholism, cocainism, morphinism, and hashishism, as an insidious social
evil.
Deaths from all causes related to Cardio-vascular disease.
1954—576
1953—487
1952—628
1951—631
1950—666
On the other hand,reference to the above figures of disease of the
heart and circulation, indicate a suddenly marked decline In "killing"
capacity, so that in 1953 141 fewer persons succumbed in this way.
It is difficult to account for this sudden fall in deaths from cardiovascular
causes, except perhaps to hazard a guess that domestic, community,
and national tensions have lessened a little which might account for greater
peace of mind and sense of security and diminished worry in a great body of
people, especially the workers, which reflect themselves in lessened mortality
from cardlo-vascular catastrophes. Or possibly the full Impact of legislation
has transferred a good deal of individual responsibility on to the
State and relieved many persons of anxiety they were ill constituted to
support.
I can hardly credit the belief held in certain quarters that some
change in diet (e.g. less fat consumption) has effected this reduction in
mortality, for fats, meat, butter, eggs and milk, although all increased in
price, show little tendency to be consumed in any less quantities than in
preceding years, in fact it is possible the reverse is more likely to be
true.
When all this is said, diseases of the heart and circulation and cancer
remain the Captains of the Men of Death, and account for upwards of 700
deaths each year. The old aphorism that a man is as old as his arteries,
still hold good, and it seems we are gradually evolving a race of men whose
arteries are the better able to withstand the rigours of modern living.