CANCER INCREASING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 219, 5 June 1918, Page 4

CANCER INCREASING

FIGUKES FOR THE DOMINION,

During tho forty-five years to tho end of tin year 1016 New Zealand lost moro than IS,OWJ people by cuncor. Since 1872 the death-rate has increased from 2.01 per 10,000 ot population to 8.27. "Not unnaturally, iu view of tho figures, tho position has been regarded as.alarming," writes Dr. Watt, District Health Olhcer, Wellington, in tne "Journal of Public Health.*' "However, conclusions based only on a study of the cancer deatli-rato .aro fallacious, ajid cause unnecessary distress. The, increase in New Zealand can, in great part, bo discounted as a uatuval consequence of an evor-giwing proportion of elderly people in the community. Sir Jonathan riutcbinson, commenting on tho lnlluenco of age in determining tho onset of cancer, pointed out the . 'frequency with which this disease is encountered in the horse and dog as contrasted with its rarity in tho ox and sheep, the reason being that the two former animals aro allowed to livo out their natural span whilo the two-latter aro slaughtered for tood at an early age. That cancer in human beings is equally a disease of advancing years is suggested by everyday experience and observation, aud may .be proved by a detailed analysis of the ages of thoso . who tall viciims to the disease. Statistics provo the extraordinary preponderance of the diseaso in 'latemiduio iito aud in commencing 'old age, approximately 87 per cent, of ihe deatns occurring lit tho age of 15 and over." During the jive years, 1811-15, the deaths lrom cancer totalled 4281, distriouted thus in the various age'groups: Under 5 years, 35; 5 and under 10, 8; 10 aud under 15, 'J; 15 and under 20, 13; 20 and under 25, 12; 25 and under 30, 16; 30 and under 35, 83; 35 and under 40, 132; 40 and under 45, 211; 45 aud under 50, 320; 50 and under 55, 3SI; 55 aud under liO, 517; 60 and under fis, 535; 05' and under 70, 645; 70 and under 75. 613; 75 and under 80. 416; 80 and over. 293.

itr. J. W. Butcher, Chief Compiler in the Cetisus and Statistics Office, Wellington, bus a very valuable treatise (now republished in pamphlet form) in the New Zealand Year Book. llr. Butcher. has taken great pains in the preparation of figures and other evidence. Tho following is an extract [—"Although some .writers' have expressed doubts on the point, N there is a general consensus of opinion among medical and statistical authorities that siuoking is at least a contributory cauSo of cancer of tho mouth, lips, etc.. and the evidence available for New Zealand for the nine years ISJOB-1G —supports this. Tho average adult male New Zcalandcr smokes and the average New Zealand woman does not, and this difference in the habits of tho two sexes is one of the only two factors that can bo advanced to explain the great discrepancy between the numbers of deaths of males and females from cancer of the buccal cavity. The other factor is the greater core taken by women generally in the matter of keeping the teeth, e(c., in a clean and healthy condition. During the nino years IMB-1G only id femnles died of this class of cancer as against 377 males, while during the preceding five years 89 women and 4G3 men died of cancer of tho buccal cavity, throat, and neck. In cancer of tho stomach and liver also the male numbers and rates aro much higher than tho female, and hero again it appears that a predominatingly male habit—viz.. drinking—is responsible for part at least of tliß excess. Alcohol is known to detrimentally affect the stomach and liver by producing gastritis, ulceration, cirrhosis, etc., which are generally regarded as potential forerunners to cancer." '