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identical environment, employment, hobbies and habits, one should
develop cancer and the other should not.
The third most important cause of death, vascular diseases of the
nervous system, embraces such conditions as cerebral haemorrhage and
cerebral thrombosis. The former, particularly, appears to have at least
one characteristic in common with coronary thrombosis—to a great
extent it is a disease of civilization. The strain of modern life, the tempo
of living in the twentieth century reflect themselves on the blood-pressure.
There is too much worry nowadays to be good for us and the ability to
relax has been lost by many.
Of equal importance as a cause of death are diseases of the respiratory
system. What is the number one killer in this category? Bronchitis and
Bronchopneumonia are our chief enemies. More often than not the latter
does not develop de novo but is superimposed on a chronic bronchitic
condition of many years standing. Control of atmospheric pollution
should do much to cut down the incidence of what is known in some other
parts of the world as "The Englishman's Disease" and it is, I think, safe to
say that smoking, particularly of cigarettes, is more certainly contributable
to bronchitis than it is to bronchial carcinoma.
Maternal Mortality
It is gratifying to note that the maternal mortality figure was nil for
the year, a figure which reflects great credit on all those responsible for
ante-natal and obstetric care for either domiciliary or hospital confinements.
Infant and Neo-natal Mortality
The time has not yet come when one can report no deaths under these
headings, but the figure shows a great improvement over 1961. The great
majority of these deaths are the result of congenital abnormalities, incompatible
with a life of any long duration and in the present state of
medical knowledge such cases can be effectively dealt with only under
certain circumstances. There are still types of cases which lie outside the
scope of any possible medical or surgical intervention although further
continuing research is slowly overtaking this problem and the work of
saving infant lives can now be successfully undertaken in cases which only
a few years ago would have had to be regarded as beyond all hope of cure.
Deaths from other than congenital causes continue to occur, but in
decreasing numbers. Modern medicine, with its ever increasing armamentarium
of drugs can do wonders but it is regrettable that there is still
no preparation fully effective against virus infections which as bacterial
infections are mastered appear to be replacing them to an ever increasing
extent.
It is gratifying to report that despite intensive enquiries no "Thalidomide"
baby was born in the district.
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