CANCER IN THE DOMINION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1984, 31 May 1919, Page 1

CANCER IN THE DOMINION.

RATE ABOVE TUBERCULOSIS,

An elaborate statistical examination of the prevalence of cancer in 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 larger than those of any previous year, the figures being 48 in excess of the figures for 191 G, which were themselves higher than those of any previous year. The average number for the period 1912-1 G was 8.76. Of the deaths in 1917, males numbered 511 and females 44G.

The death rate from cancer per 1,000 persons living in various countries, according to (lie 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 19.17 were at the ages of 45 years and upwards, and 59 per cent, at the ages of 60 years and upwards. Deaths from this disease, however, were recorded in all the age groups from infancy upwards. The following table, extracted from (he Year Book, shows some of the principal causes of deaths, in recent years, in the order of the numbers in 1917:

1914.1915.1910.1917. Heart disease 1301 1144 1200 1390 Senility 812 793 833 1001 Cancer 904 900 909 957 Tuberculosis 570 502 591 579 Accidents 047 025 595 501 Apoplexy 441 403 478 472 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 disclaimed as 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 annexa were confined to males.