Fresh alarms on the increase of cancer / by E.F. Bashford.

  • Bashford, E. F. (Ernest Francis), 1873-
Date:
1914?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Fresh alarms on the increase of cancer / by E.F. Bashford. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    mentary on tlie very imperfect extent to which births and deaths are registered in the United States. It is a matter of common knowledge how high infantile mortality is, and how it must be taken account of in accurate statements of the total mortality of a population. It is also common knowledge that the age constitution of a popula¬ tion is determined by the birth-rate, if immigra¬ tion and migration be left out of account, and that the age constitution of a population has an important relation to the death-rate. The birth-rate itself affects the death-rate only according as it alters the age constitution. While such inaccuracies obtain for the two chief events in life—birth and death—the age constitu¬ tion of the United States is simply unknown, and the question arises, Is it to be entertained as possible that subsidiary events, such as the occur¬ rence of cancer, are likely to be stated with greater accuracy ? Even when the physician certifies the cause of death he is asked to supervise voluntarilxj the statements made by the layman as to such important matters as age, sex, colour, marriage, occupation, birthplace of father and mother, and duration of residence. Voluntary certi¬ fication has invariably broken down ; the physician devotes all his attention to his compulsory duty when filling in a death certificate, and he will not bother about requests that he should volunteer to give information as to other details relating to the deceased. Sex and age are most important in regard to all causes of death, but they have a unique importance in the case of cancer. The inference to be drawn from a study of the confused state of affairs in the United States is that improvements are being effected in the collection of vital statistics of that country, as the result of the praiseworthy efforts of the Census Bureau in Washington, under the initiative of Cressy L. Wilbur. Nevertheless, statements of the causes of death are still only possible per 100,000 of popula¬ tion, no account being taken of age and sex. The imperfect registration of births and deaths makes this method, recognised as crude under the best circumstances, even of less value. For ex¬ ample, absence of accurate enumeration of the