Such figures as we have quoted, of course, imply a
better general standard of health right through life, but it is rather startling to learn that the .expenditure on national insurance has risen for, each person from 2s. 21d. in 1921 to 3s. 2d. last year. Sir George says that this rise cannot be explained by any increase of illness. The Approved Societies think that it is due to a growing habit of report- ing sickness in cases which before the days of insurance would never have come under the notice of a doctor. The chief cause of death during the year has been diseases of the heart and circulation (201 per thousand). Bron- chitis, pneumonia and similar diseases, largely due to influenza, caused 157 deaths per thousand. Cancer comes third in the list with 111 deaths per thousand. Consump- tion, which has dropped steadily in the list during recent years, accounted for 79 deaths per thousand. Sir George thinks that the figures relating to cancer do not prove that the disease is increasing.
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