On the alleged Increase of Cancer. 



" On the alleged Increase of Cancer." By GEORGE KING, F.I.A., 

 F.F.A., Hon. Sec. Institute of Actuaries, and ARTHUR 

 NEWSHOLME, M.D., M.R.C.P., Medical Officer of Health for 

 Brighton. Communicated by Dr. J. S. BRISTOWE, F.R.S. 

 Received February 27, Read May 4, 1893. 



During the last few years the minds of medical men and of the 

 general public have been exercised over the rapid and striking increase 

 in the mortality from cancer, as shown by the statistics contained in the 

 Registrar- General's Annual Reports. The following table, taken from 

 these reports, shows how great this increase in registered mortality 

 has been. The registered death-rate of males from this disease was 

 2'7 times, for females 2'0 times, and for both sexes together 2*2 times, 

 as high in 1891 as in the average for the decade 1851-60. 



Table A. Mortality from Cancer in England and Wales per Million 

 living at all ages. 



That cancer has really increased in this country appears to be now 

 generally assumed in medical circles. 



Sir Spencer Wells, in his Morton Lecture (November, 1888), gives 

 the Registrar- General's figures, showing that the mortality from 

 cancer had increased from 488 per million of the population in 1877 

 to 615 per million in 1887 in England and Wales, and from 350 per 

 million in 1877 to 430 per million in 1887 in Ireland, as proof of this 

 increase; and further quotes the statement of Dr. Fordyce Barker, 

 that the mortality from cancer in the city of New York had risen from 

 400 per million in 1875 to 530 per million in 1885. 



The attitude taken by the Registrar- General's Department has be- 

 come somewhat modified of late years, doubts having been formerly 



