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Vaccination against Smallpox - This is voluntary and
calculations show that "by the end of 1955 some 51%of the
children "born between 1st July, 1954 and the 30th June, 1955
have been vaccinated.
Births - The number of live births for 1955 is 543 and
compares with 534 for 1954. The birth rate is 13.89 per
l,OOO of population compared with 13,64 for 1954.
Deaths - The number of deaths recorded in 1955 is 424
compared with 450 for 1954. This makes a death rate of
10.85 for 1955 compared with 11,49 for 1954. The excess of
births over deaths was 119 compared with 84 for the previous
year.
The number of deaths of infants under 1 year of age in
1955 is 8 which gives an Infant Mortality rate per 1,000
live births of l4,73. It is clear, however, that one of
these deaths must be considered preventable which would have
left only 7 making an Infant Mortality rate of 12,80.
The corresponding figures for 1954 were 11 infant
deaths and an Infant Mortality rate of 20.60. The average
rate for the previous five years (1950-54) is 24.4.
There was 1 maternal deathp the first since 1951.
Causes of Death - The main conditions causing death
during 1955 were Heart Disease -120; Cancer - 89; and
Vascular Lesions of the Nervous System -
National attention has been drawn in recent years to
the general increase in the number of deaths attributable
to lung cancer and its possible association with cigarette
smoking.
The following table shows the releTant figures for
the past five years in respect of Kingston residents.

Cancer of all sites in the body is one of the main
causes of death. There is still a reluctance , born of fear,
to discuss this disease but there are now signs that dread
is being replaced by a more open interest. It cannot be too
strongly stressed that early treatment can stop the advance
of malignant growths. Intensive research has as yet failed
to produce a cure for every case or a method of prevention
but the future prospects of sufferers who present themselves
for medical advice and treatment in the early stages of the
disease are good. Research workers have found that a very
large proportion of persons suffering from cancer do not
reveal the fact to a Doctor until the disease is so advanced
that even the latest methods of surgical and radiation
treatment cannot halt the growth.
All persons who suspect that they may be suffering from
cancer should go to their doctor immediately, voice their
suspicions, and have the matter thoroughly investigated.