RESUMO
A study of changes in mortality due to carcinoma of the stomach in France between 1954 and 1974 was undertaken on the basis of probable levels standardised on the French population in 1968. There was a marked fall in this mortality for both sexes. In the male, the initial level in 1954 was 54.8/100 000 and the decrease was of the order of 1.35 deaths per 100 000 per year, i.e. an annual fall of -3.21%. This phenomenon was more marked during the second period (1965--1974): - 3.88%, than during the first period (1954--1963: - 2.38%. In the female, with an initial mortality rate of 31.25/100 000, the annual decrease was 31.25/100 000, i.e. an annual fall of - 3.49%. This fall was - 3.09% for the first ten year period and - 4.80% for the second period. Thus in France, in common with many other countries, there has been a marked decrease in mortality due to carcinoma of the stomach, for both sexes, and this phenomenon became progressively more notable during the period of the study.
