The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-05-05
Cancer of the Stomach.

While we often hear of persons dy-
ing of cancer of the stomach, it is prob
ably true that not more than one-half
of the deaths reported to result from
that disease are actually caused by can
Ger. The following is an interesting
case of this kind that has recently been
considered by the pension office: A
soldier filed claim for pension, based
upon chronic diarrhea and rheuma-
tism, June IA, 1880, which was pending
on the 18th day of July, 1884, when he
died of cancer of the stomach and liver.
His widow applied for pension, and
in considering the question of pathology
involved in the widows case DR.. John
Campbell, medical referee of the pen
sion office, made the following report
"The origin and continuance of chronic
diarrh9a are clearly shown. A claim
for pension for that disease was pend
ing at the date of the soldiers death,
the allowance of which was apparently
only prevented by that event. Now,
then, the discovery is made upon post
norton examination that the man had
cancer of the stomach and liver, the
origin of which dates back to some
point in the history of the case which is
altogether indefinite. Suppose no post
norton had been made, the pension
would have been granted without Ques-
ton. We have only the opinion of DR..
- that cancer existed. He does not
relate any facts nor refer to any mi
croscopic examination which would
lead to rational conclusion that he
was correct in his opinion. The causes
of cancer are so little known that we
must be content with ascribing them to
a peculiar diathesis of which we know
not the origin. 1t is altogether prob
able that whatever initiates or influences
the stomach may call into activity this
peculiar diathesis or predisposition.
All the necessary conditions can safely
be said to exist in any case presenting
a long and continuous history of chronic
diarrh9a But precisely the same con-
ditions exist also in almost every case
of non-malignant fibroid thickening of
the coats of the stomach. So well is
this recognized that in no case has the
question been raised in this office, I'M
less presented in manner that might
be called accidental. The existence of
cancer located within the walls of the
abdomen is not easily determined, and
cannot be more than guessed at during
life, except by microscopic examina-
ton of matter vomited or detected.
After death its determination is made
easier by subjecting the morbid tissues
themselves to such test. No medical
scientist will risk an unqualified diagno.
sis without that test, though willing,
generally, to give mere opinion, as
in this case. Whatever may have been
presented to the surgeon who made the
post norton examination, nothing has
been given as guide to us except his
opinion, and that in the fewest possible
words. Such an opinion, if given by
an examining board, would not be ac.
cepted as satisfactory. If worthy to be
received as of governing force it should
be supported by scientific data, so as tC
make the justice of the conclusion alb
solute. No tumor of any kind is de
scribed, and we are not even told tina
any existed. l submit that no proc
has been presented which, MEDICAL,
considered, shows that the soldier dice
of cancer, or upon which rejection
can be defended"