The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-20
rnu rreHr AeA1xsr oANoEB.
New vigor In the Attempt 60 Cheek
the Advance Of This Disease.

New Viror in the Attempt 60 Check
the Advance of This Disease.
Disease is nowadays being attacked on
every side with renewed vigor and In most
instances with much success. The moro
rational methods in the treatment OF con-
sumption, which have been pursued during
the past few years, have already had the
effect OF considerably checking it's ravages
Vaccination has for long taken the sting
from smallpox. Yellow fever vanishes
wherever efficient sanitary measures are
enforced, while 1t has been demonstrated
that typhoid fever can be completely driven
out by a strict attention to the laws OF
hygiene generally and by insisting upon q
thoroughly pure water and milk supply.
There ia, however, one disease which has
thus far banned the skill Of scientific men.
That 10 cancer. In spite Of laborious re-
search cancer still remains mystery. and
although at intervals within the past few
years scientists have announced that its
origin has been traced home, upon a care
full analysis of the various theories pro-
pounded 1t has always been found that
when put to this test they were found want
ing. The theory Of a parasitic origin is the
minds OF medical men, and the search for
the cancer germ has been, and Is now
being viglantly and persistently carried on.
on
In the meantime the truth remains that
no disease has made such rapid hesdway
within the past thirty years. and especially
in this country and state as cancer. DR..
Roswell Park Of Buffalo, one Of the most
distinguish authorities on the subject. de-
clares that the disease is progressing at 30
rapid rate that II It continues It will cause
more deaths IN the state of New York than
consumption, smallpox. and typhoid fever
combined. In thirty years the deaths per
1000. due to cancer, have almost trebled
in the United States, and during the same
period nearly doubled in Great Britain. Mr..
W. Roger Williams in the Lonoct of Au-
gust 20, 1895, shows that in 1e4o cancer
caused 2,7s6 deaths. the proportion being
one in 5,e46 OF the total population. and one
in 12s Of tho total mortality. In 1896 the
deaths due to It numbered 1851. or one in
1906 Of the total population. and ono In 81
of the total mortality. In this country sta
tistics are even more appalling Some sta
tisticians have endeavored to explain away
this increase in the mortality from cancer
as misleading, and assume that the increase
is only apparent, and is due to improved
methods In detecting the disease, but even
II this to a certain extent be SO the in
crease has been too rapid for this explana-
ton to cover the whole ground.
Fortunately. there is q bright side to this
dark picture. In this state. DR.. Roswell
Parks statement on the subject has aroused
the authorities. and already q laboratory
has been established and equipped at the
expense of the state for the purpose Of
studying cancer and placed under the d.
rection OF DR.. Park. In Great Britain. the
literature, both lay and medical. bearing ON
the question is voluminous. and the govern
ment OF that country has recently decided
to send q bacteriologist to Buffalo In order
to inspect the new laboratory as we'll as to
gain fresh ideas. Thus II would seem that
the fight against cancer promises to be as
energetically waged as that against con-
sumption. and there Is reason to hope with
as good results.