H.—3l.

The Census and Statistics Office, with a view to contributing some lighi on certain aspects of the cancer problem, has for some years past maintained an individual record and history of all persons treated for cancer in the public hospitals in the Dominion. As nearly two thousand cases of cancer pass through these institutions annually, a considerable amount of data has been accumulated during the past seven years. This information was published and reviewed by the Government Statistician in the Monthly Abstract of Statistics during 1932, and should prove of considerable interest to im gators and research workers engaged in the cancer problem. The New Zealand Branch of the British Can* ; C aign Society has continued its valuable work. Ihe report of the Wellington Medical Consultant Committee of the society shows that the method of keeping records was standardized and brought int., conformity in the four centres \,,,,, r the improvements introduced in the recording oj cases was the provision of a follow-up system which enables cases which have left hospital to be kepi under supervision. The result of the experience for the last three years has been to define more clearly Hi,, type of malignant disease in which radium is ot value in treatment. The experience of the committee in this respect is i,, accord with reported results of the cancer clinics in other parts of the world. It has been found and this is in accord with experience abroad—that deep X-ray radiati. nif finding a larger place than hitherto in the trcatmi at of growths. Ihe committee is watching closely the trend of expert opinion in the matter of radium and deep X-ray treatment m other parts of the world, and is keeping abreast of curreni medical opinion in all aspects of cancer. ' Further statistical information and comments on vital statistics will be found in the report of the Director. Division ~f Public Hygiene. The Economic Dki'kksmon and the Public Health. Health administrations throughout the world have viewed with considerable anxiety the possible effects of the present economic depression on the state of the public health In New Zealand information which may be expected to throw light on the problem is available from three sources :— (1) The returns of deaths compiled by the Census and Statistics Office. (2) The morbidity returns supplied by the public hospitals throughout the Dominion (3) Ihe records <>f examinations of school-children carried out by the School Medical Service. As has already been shown, there is no evidence from the vital statistics that the health of the masses has been in any way impaired during more ceceni years. The death-rate, the infant-mortality rate the mortality from tuberculosis, were all lower in 1932 than at any other time in the history (if ' "" I , "" 1 """"-. Tins ,s all to the good, but i, may be argued that the death returns do not represent the true position as the effects of malnutrition are delayed and while causing sickness not have had time as yet to affect the death-rate. The records of our public hospitals/however do no. support any suggestion that there is increased morbidity in New Zealand as the result of the depression The statistics for patients treated in the public hospitals in the Dominion are as set out belou :

Patients treated in Public Hospitals.

This table shows thai the position in 1931 32 is little worse than in 1927-28, and is definitely better than in the intervening years. The returns of examinations carried out by School Medical Officers again go to show that the nutrition of school-children has been well maintained. The Eacts are brought out by the followinc table giving the percentage rates of school-children classified as suffering from sub-normal nutrition over a period o! five years :— Sub-normal Nutrition amongst School-children. . Percentage of * ear - Total Numberof .. . , Cliildren examined. 1929 •• •• '■'■ '.' '.'. :: " tot So 6 " 68 ix,i •• •• •• •• •• .. .. 5-81 It will be seen that since 1928 then- has I nan actual fall in the percentage rate of children suffering from malnutrition. In considering successive years the figures may be regarded as reliable since they refer to some 60,000 to 70,000 annual examinations over a period in which the personnel of the feehool Medical Service and the standard of the examination have remained fairly constant

4

Year. Persons under Proportion per 1,000 Treatment. of Population. 1927-28 : 79-500 55-08 1928 29 ; 87-888 60-20 1929-30 89-76] 60-75 1930 :il 89-147 59-52 1931-32 85-562 56-06