The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-08-30
The Cancer Death Rate

The recent death OF Mrs. Edith
Rockefeller Mccormick from cancer,
dread raalady which numbers its VIC
tins in increasing numbers each
year, emphasizes that the rich as we'll
as the poor are subject to it's raw
ages.
Once known as the richest woman
in the world and possessed of a con-
siderable fortune at her death, Mrs.
Nice ormick was able to command the
best medical and surgical talent. But
this fact availed her nothing. For
many days toward the last she was
kept alive only by the force of an
iron will.
Peculiarly enough, the death rate
from most diseases has shown a
marked drop since the beginning of
the current economic cycle. Pneu-
monia deaths have taken an unprece-
dented decline. tuberculosis and
diphtheria are claiming fewer VIC
tins now than formerly and statistics
show that the general health of peo-
pie in the United States and Canada
reached record high levels during the
first half of 1882. Several of the
principal diseases seem likely to reach
the end of the year with the lowest
mortality rate recorded since statis-
tics have been kept.
But running counter to the general
trend are cancer, heart disease, GER
ebral hemorrhage, chronic nephritis
and diabetes, all of which show in
creases. Just why this should be so
the physicians are uncertain. If they
knew they might be good deal closer
to finding cures than seems the case
at present.
OF the increases, the rise in the
cancer death rate is the most alarm
ing. Statisticians for a great life in
Surance company, who keep on track
If health trends by examination of
death claims filed, estimate that the
increase in the cancer death rate for
1882 and 1882 will be about three
fourths as great as the increase for
he entire l2-year period from 1919
to 1880.
Cancer deaths to date in 1882 ex-
coed those Of 1891 by 9.5 per cent.
This increase is more than six times
as great as the average increase for
- years from 1919 to 1880.
The statisticians point out that
there may be difference between
causes among their policy
holders and the general public but,
if so, the figures should favor insured
persons since most of them were ex-
amined at the time they took out the
insurance and found to be healthy.
The only exceptions to this rule are
those persons who, for one reason or
another, were insured without physi-
cal examination.
Disconcerting as the data seem to
be, the figure experts offer a ray of
hope to those who are fearful of
death from cancer. They say:
The weight of the evidence is
that the cancer death toll is now
increasing at very rapid rate.
We can only conclude that
some forces have been at work
since the beginning of 1891 to
cause marked acceleration in
the number of deaths reported
from cancer. It is by no means
assured. as yet, that the actual
increase in 1881 and 1882 has
been as sharp as our figures indi-
cate. There is always the posi-
bility that part of the rise re-
suited from more accurate dag
noses. An eminent authority on
cancer believes this to be true.
Many more cases are undoubtedly
being discovered through labora-
tory findings, operative proce-
dures and autopsies, which are
being made more often now than
ever before. But there is, of
course, the possibility that over
and above these factors, we are
confronted with some influence
that is increasing the true Incl
dence of cancer. Time will be re-
quired to answer this question"