Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-11-01
THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER.
New visor In the Attempt to Cheek th'
Advance Of This Disease.

Advance Of This Disease.
Disease is nowadays being attacked
on every side with renewed vigor and
in most instances with much success.
The more rational methods in the
treatment of consumption, which have
been pursued the past few years have
already had the effect of considerably
checking its ravages. Vaccination
has for long taken the sting from
smallpox. Yellow fever van:shcs
wherever efficient sanitary measures
are enforced, while it has been de-
monstrated that typhoid fever can be
completely driven out by strict at
tention to the laws of hygiene gener-
ally and by insisting upon thorough
ly pure water and milk supply.
There is, however. ono disease
which hos thus far baflel the skill of
scientific men. That is cancer. In
spite of laborious research cancer still
remains a mystery, and although at
intervals within the past few years
scientists have announced that lis
origin has been traced home, upon a
careful analysis of the various theories
propounded it has always been found
that when put to the test they were
found wanting. The theory OF
parasitic origin is the one which ap-
peals most forcihly to the minds OF
medical men, and the search for the
cancer germ has been, and is now
being vigilantly and rersistently car
ried on.
In the meantime the truth remains
that no dis ease has made such rapid
headway within the rast thirty years,
and especially in this country and
state as cancer. DR.. Roswell Park of
Buffalo, one of the most distinguished
authorities on the subject, declares
that the disease is progressing at so
rapid rate that ii it continues it
will cause more deaths in the state OF
New York than consumption, small
pox 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 Lancet
of Aug. 90. 1893, shows that in 1910
cancer caused 27S6 deaths, the pro-
portion being one in 5646 of the total
population, and one in 129 of the
total mortality. In 1896 the deaths
due TO it numbered %, ,32l, or cne in
l30G of the total population, and one
in % of the total mortality. In this
country statistics are even more apral-
ling. Some statisticians have endea-
vored to explain away The increase in
the mortality from cancer as mislead-
ing, and assume tina; the increase ia
only apparent, and is duo to improved
methods in detecting the disease, but
even if this TO certain extent be so
the increase has been too rapid for
explanation 10 cover the whole
ground.
Fortunately, there is a bright side
TO this dark picture. In this state,
Dr.. Roswell Parks statement on the
sub: has aroused the auth horities. and
already laboratory has been es!abli-
shed and equipped at the expense of
the state for the purpose OF studying
cancer and placed under the direction
of Dr.. Park. In Great Britain, the
literature, both lay aud medical, bear
ing on the question is volnminous, and
the government of that country has
recently decided to send a Eacteriolo-
gist to Buffalo in order to insr ect the
new laboratory as we'll as TO gain fresh
ideas. Thus it would seem thatthe fight
against cancer promises to be as ener-
getically waged as that against con-
sumption, and there is reason to hope
with as good results. New York Sun.