The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1931. MORTALITY STATISTICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 August 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1931. MORTALITY STATISTICS.

“We know not the cause of cancer.” This statement, which is quoted from the annual report of the Director-Gen-eral of Health, represents an admission that medical science is baffled concerning the/ origins of f e disease tnat remains the greatest factor in the shortening of the lives of those who have reached or have passed middleage, and the report states that “it is increasing in prevalence at a slow, not rapid, rate.” As long as the cause of cancer remains unknown it is to he apprehended that the ravages of the disease will not be materially checked and hopes must focus upon the research that is being conducted in the British Commonwealth at the instigation of the Empire Cancer Campaign. Throughout tile world, indeed, medical science is applying itself busily and not despairingly to the effort to ascertain the cause of the disease. Every now and again we learn of the results of experiments that have been eonducted i’l some laboratory or other which stimulate the hope that research is oh the point of exposing the secrets that have in the past eluded discovery. In the meantime there is some cause for satisfaction, in the assurance that the real increase in deaths due to cancer is .slight and in the knowledge that the disease can be checked if advice and treatment are sought at an early stage. Recent results have shown that the proportion of actual cures from the treatment of early cancer is very high. The number of deaths in New Zealand from violence seems very high and, in the case of deaths due to accident, needlessly so. It is deplorable to think that motor vehicle accidents have averaged a toll of 172 persons per year during the last five years. This represents an average approaching one death as a result of motor accidents everv two days, and it mav safely l>e concluded that a contributory cause has Iren an unfortunate decree of recklessness or negligence on the part of drivers. New Zealand has the lowest death rat,, from tuberculosis in the world, and the rate is steadily decreasing, being 4.55 per 10.000 cif population in 1930 compared with 5.37 in 1926. Tuberculosis still takes fifth place, however, as a causa of death hi the Dominion, the number of deaths from all forms being 649 last year. Morover, the disease temporarily or permanently disables many 1 more persons than succumb to it,