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CAUSES OF DEATH.
There were 654 deaths registered during the year, of which
324 were males and 330 females. Of this total, 213 were
attributed to heart disease (including coronary disease, angina
and hypertension with heart disease); this was, as usual, the
largest single cause of death. Deaths from cancer, at 133,
were the lowest recorded since 1948 and the rate, after remaining
at 2.0 or more for the past four years, dropped to 1.8.
Despite this decrease, deaths from cancer of the lung were
one more than in 1952. Since this classification was first introduced
into the short list in 1950 deaths of residents of the
district from this distressing disease have increased from 25
to 36 annually.
The most significant decrease in the table is that of deaths
from tuberculosis. Those from respiratory tuberculosis number
10 only, the lowest on record, whilst for the first time we
had no deaths recorded from other forms of this disease.
In the past ten years our death rate from pulmonary tuberculosis
has been reduced from 0.55 to 0.13 per thousand
population.
Deaths from motor vehicle accidents showed a welcome
decline from 7 in 1952 to 3 this year, but deaths from other
accidents were unfortunately quite high. There was a marked
increase in suicides, the number reaching the very high figure
of 13, which according to our records, is the highest number
ever registered in the district.
There were 12 infant deaths and one maternal death.
These are commented upon further, on pages 19 and 20.
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