The relation of cancer to life assurance : a paper read at the Life Assurance Medical Officers' Association, May 5th, 1897, with a discussion / by Joseph Frank Payne.

  • Payne, Joseph Frank, 1840-1910.
Date:
[1897]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The relation of cancer to life assurance : a paper read at the Life Assurance Medical Officers' Association, May 5th, 1897, with a discussion / by Joseph Frank Payne. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    disease) is less influenced as regards its apparent prevalence, by accuracy of diagnosis, than in males, where the predominant form is Cancer of internal organs. In criticism of these conclusions it may be urged: 1. —That the increase is so large and so continuous, that if due to accuracy of diagnosis, it implies an equally rapid and continuous improvement in the education and skill of the general practitioner; a conclusion which the experience of an old examiner makes one hesitate before accepting. Improvement in these respects there doubtless is, but hardly enough, I think, to account for the remarkable phenomena observed. 2. —The diagnosis of internal Cancer may be, in the absence of post-mortem examination, due, in some cases, to error, as well ias in other cases to superior skill and knowledge. It does not jnecessarily imply the latter. 3. —The proportion of cases of Cancer in accessible parts (in- duding skin, tongue, rectum, and genitals), does not seem to be 50 small in males as the objectors suppose. Mr. Roger Williams, m support of this conclusion, gives the following statistics : Out of 2669 cases of Cancer in males observed during life, he ids the following proportion in ‘ accessible situations ’: steta :el]j 11 be i .ere* ch1 f 1* Tongue and Mouth 26*3 per cent. Skin 14*3 „ Lip ••• • • • 12-2 „ Genitalia 6'8 „ Rectum ... 7-5 „ Total 67-1 „ The returns of Mortality from Cancer give, it is true, a different [suit: Rectum ... 8*3 per c Tongue and Mouth 7-6 a Face 4-7 tt Lip ••• ••• ••• 2-4 a Jaw 2-3 it Pharynx and Fauces 2-2 tt Total 27'5 it