ON THE PEEVALENGE OF CANCEE IN AUSTKALASIA. 



(FIRST AND SECOND PAPERS). 



By EUGEN HIRSCHFELD, M.D., 



Honorary Bacteriologist to the Brisbane Hospital. 



[Read before the Roi/al Society of Queensland, Vlth Auyust and 

 \lth November, 1893.] 



In perusing the report of the " Mortality Experience of the 

 Austrahan Mutual Provident Society, 1849-88," the following 

 passage arrested my attention : — " After phthisis, cancer is the 

 most fatal of the constitutional diseases. To this cause 257 

 deaths — 232 males and 25 females — are due. These represent 

 4-68 per cent, of the total deaths, and 0'04 per cent, on the 

 exposed to risk. For the period ended Slst December, 1878, 

 deaths from cancer were only 3-03 per cent, of the total deaths, 

 and 0*02 per cent, on the exposed to risk. There has, therefore, 

 been a very marked increase during the ten years — 1879-88. 

 Cancer is, as a rule, a disease of middle and old age, con- 

 sequently the increase in the rate of mortality from this cause 

 would be partly accounted for by the increased age of the office. 

 This does not, however, explain such a great increase as is here 

 shewn. A larger proportion die from this disease in this society 

 than in either the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York 

 or in the Scottish Widows' Fund. We do not know how to 

 account for this very unfavourable feature of our mortality 

 statistics, but we hope that the further investigations we have 

 suggested will throw some light on it." 



This experience of the Australian Mutual Provident Society 

 entirely coincides with the experience of medical men in this 

 colony, both in hospital and private practice. One cannot help 

 being impressed with the fact that the number of cases of cancer 

 coming under our observation are out of proportion to the ratio 



