In each sex there has been a very large and continuous increase in the cancer death-rate, side by side with a large and continuous decrease in the death-rate from all causes.

For males, the cancer death-rate in 1899 was 191 per 100 of the cancer death-rate in 1880; an increase of 91 per cent.

For females, the cancer death-rate in 1899 was 148 per 100 of the cancer death-rate in 1880; an increase of 48 per cent.

Thus, the increase in the male death-rate from cancer has been much larger than the corresponding female increase. But we observe that throughout the twenty years, the actual female death-rate from cancer was much higher than the male death-rate.

Since 1880 only, the number of male deaths from cancer, per 1,000 male deaths from all causes, has increased from 16.2 per 1,000 to 34:5 per 1,000. The corresponding female increase has been from 34.3 per 1,000 deaths in 1880 to 56.6 per 1,000 deaths in 1899.

Cancer is essentially an incident of mature or of advanced life, and it is desirable to look at our facts with regard to age distinction.

The above facts relate to England and Wales in the year 1899.

We see that cancer is most virulent

among

males at ages from 55-64,

THE NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM CANCER PER 1,000 DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES,

DURING 1861-1899, IN ENGLAND AND WALES.

when 99.3 per 1,000 deaths are caused by cancer; at these ages, one male death in every ten deaths is caused by cancer.

The female maximum is at ages 45-54, when 158.8 deaths per 1,000 deaths are caused by cancer. This means that at this age group one woman dies of cancer out of every six women who die at ages 45-54; a very heavy cancer death-toll.

Broadly, the male age-period when cancer works most strongly is at ages 45-74. For female life, the worst cancer period is also at ages 45-74. After age 74, other diseases assert themselves, and the relative killing strength of cancer is, as we see, materially reduced.

Cancer, perhaps, is now become the worst of all the diseases that attack adult life. In 1899, the deaths from the following leading causes, per thousand deaths from all causes, were

Several of the above diseases find an immense number of victims among children; whereas cancer, as we have seen, works mainly among mature adults.

Such are the facts of this hideous disease, whose cause seems to be unknown to science. But during a good many years, and in many places, the opinion has been stated by physicians that cancer may be caused in part by too much meat-eating, by an overfed condition of body accompanied by indolence.

In this connection the following facts have importance, although in stating them I disclaim any intention to express an opinion as to the cause of cancer, as to which I am wholly ignorant. I merely direct attention to the enormous increase in the consumption of imported meat during the last twenty years, per head of the population of the United Kingdom.

Quantity of imported meat retained for home consumption, per head of the population of the United Kingdom.

Thus, in 1880, the per capita consumption of imported meat was 28.7 lbs. In 1900, it was 54.2 lbs. This is an immense increase, and we must bear in mind that the above results relate in each year to the consumption per head of population. The consumption in 1900 was 189 per 100 of the consumption in 1880; an increase of 89 per cent.

But, perhaps, this huge increase in the consumption of foreign meat has been accompanied by a decrease in the consumption of home meat. The following statement throws light upon this question.

NUMBER OF LIVE STOCK IN THE UNITED KINGDOM IN THE FIRST WEEK OF
JUNE, 1880, AND JUNE, 1900.

The increase in population between 1880 and 1900 was 18 per cent. Thus the home production of pig-meat has considerably exceeded the growth of population, the home production of beef has nearly kept pace with the growth of population, and only in home-grown mutton has the increase materially fallen short of the growth of population.

It follows from these facts, therefore, that there has been a very large increase in the per capita consumption of meat since the year 1880. But whether this fact is, or is not, connected with the great increase in deaths from cancer, must be decided by persons who are competent to form an opinion. I have merely stated the facts.

J. HOLT SCHOOLING.