CANCER IN DOMINION
DEATHS IN 1917 TOTAL 957.
RATE ABOVE TUBERCULOSIS.
An elaborate statistical examination of the prevalence of cancer id New Zealand is published in the latest issue of the Official Year Book. It states that the disease is annually responsible for more deaths in the dominion than can be assigned to any cause other than organic disease' of the heart. The increasing prevalence of cancer is, in fact, causing no little concern throughout the civilised world. -In 1917-there were 957 deaths from cancer, a proportion of 8.71 per 10,000 persons. This number is the highest yet recorded in any year, being 43 in excess of the figures for 1916, which were themselves higher than those of any previous year. The average number for the period 1912-16 was 876. Of the deaths in 1917, males numbered 511 and females 446.
The death-rate from cancer per 1000 persons living in various countries, according to the latest available returns, is as follows; Switzerland, 1.28; England and Wales, 1.12 (highest yet recorded); Scotland, 1.11; Netherlands, 1.09; Norway, 1.02; _ Ireland, 0.88; New Zealand, 0.87; Australia, 0.75; Italy, 0.67; Denmark, 0.58. The rate for New' Zealand is that of 1917, those for Italy, Norway, and Denmark, 1914, and those for other countries 1915. Eighty-eight per cent, of the deaths in New Zealand in 1917 were at the ages of 45 years and upwards, and 59 per cent, at the ages 60 years and upwards. Deaths from this disease were, however, recorded in all the age groups from infancy upwards. The following table, extracted from the Year Book, shows some of the principal causes of deaths in recent years in tne order of the numbers in 1917:
Dealing with the treatment of cancer in public hospitals, the Year Book states that 248 deaths were assigned to this disease. In addition 152 patients treated for cancer were discharged os recovered, 223 as relieved, and 114 as unrelieved. Very few of the recoveries were in cases of internal cancer, and but a small proportion of the deaths' in cases of surface cancer. With but eight exceptions cancer of the mouth and its armexa was confined to males.
1014. 1913. 1916. 1917. Heart disease 1301 1144 12G9 1390 Senility ... ... 812 793 883 1001 Cancer 004 900 909 957 Tuberculosis ... 576 562 591 597 Accidents 647 G23 603 581 Apoplexy 441 403 478 472
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Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 3402, 28 May 1919, Page 7
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395CANCER IN DOMINION Otago Witness, Issue 3402, 28 May 1919, Page 7
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