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286
been a considerable increase in the mortality from
"cancer" both among males and females, the increase
having been greater in the former sex. In South
Paddington an increase is similarly suggested, but not
to so marked an extent. It has not been possible up
to the time of writing to calculate the sex-age death
rates, the only reliable standards.
Tuberculosis.
The deaths from this cause include those attributed
to "phthisis," "hæmoptysis," "hydrocephalus,"
"tubercular meningitis," "tabes mesenterica," "scrofula,"
etc. The grand total from all these causes
for last year was 197. The custom of divorcing
the deaths due to "phthisis" (consumption), from
those due to "other forms of tuberculosis" is too
firmly rooted to be departed from, but it is highly
probable that such custom is not in accordance with
true pathology or aetiology.
The deaths from phthisis in 1899 (142) were
well below the corrected averages, viz., 168 for the
decennium, 180 for the first quinquennium, and
157 for the second. The death rate last year (1.10)
was also well below the mean rates, viz.: 1.29,
1.37, and 1.21 for the corresponding periods. In
North Paddington 118 deaths were registered from
phthisis, compared with averages of 142, 154, and
130 for the decennium and the two quinquennia;