View report page

made without delay, in any doubtful case, free
of charge.
If medical practitioners would fall in with
this suggestion, and I feel sure they would, then
suspicious cases would be early detected and much
unsuspected infection would be prevented.
A leaflet could be drawn up giving instructions
as to the mode of dissemination of infection,
and the precautions that should be taken after
change of address, or death, &c., and the usual
fee should be paid on the diagnosis being
verified by a bacteriological examination.
Cancer.
The Registrar General tells us that contrasting
the annual averages of the ten years, 1861-70,
with that of the seven years, 1891-97, the increase
of deaths from cancer was, in males, 136 per cent.,
and in females, 70; indicating during 30 years
that the prevalence of cancer in males had more
than doubled. No satisfactory reason can be
given for this disproportionate increase in men,
except that cancer in the male sex is more often
internal and difficult of diagnosis, and as a
consequence less frequently diagnosed in former
years.
Zymotic
Diseases.
The deaths due to the seven chief epidemic
diseases were 13, being—measles, 10; diphtheria, 3;
7