The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-08-22
FIGHT AeAlSsr CANCER.

IN. Y. SUM-

Il AANs - SUN
Disease Is nowadays being attacked ON
every side with renewed vigor and in
most instancea with much success. The
fnort,rational methodsin the treatment Of
consumption, which have been pursued
during the past few years, have already
had the effect OF considerably checking
Its ravagss. Vaccination has for long
taken the sting from smallpox. Yellow
fever vanishes wherever efficient sani-
tary measures are enforcied. 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 thoroughly pure
water and milk supply.
There is. however, one disease which
has thas far baflled the skilI Of scientific
men. That is cancer. 10 spite OF labori-
Gus research cancer stili remains mys-
terry, and although Eat intervals within
the past few years. scientists have an
nounced that It's origin has boen traced
home, upon a careful analysis of ths
various theories propounded Ii has al
ways been found thar when put to this
test they were found wanting. The theory
of parasitic origin Is the one which APP
peals most forcibly TO the minds Of nedi-
cal men, ard thu search for the cancer
| germ has been, and Is now being vigi.
| iantly and persistently carried on.
In the meantime the truth remains that
no disease has made such rapid headway
within the past thirty years. and especial
| ly in this country and state as cancer.
/ DIR. Roswell Park of Buffalo, one OF the
most distinguished authorities on the
| subject, declares that the disease is pro-
crossing at SO rapid rate that II 1t con-
tinues 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 Lancet OF
August so, 1868, shows that in 1910 cam
Ger caused 2, 1S6 deaths, the populate
proportion being one In 5. GAG Of THE total
population, and one in leg of the total
mortality. In 1895 the deaths due to 1t
numbered IS. SCI. or one sin 1906 OF the
total population, aud one in % Of the
| total mortality. In this country statis-
| tics are even more appalling. Some sta
| tistlcians have endeavored Ito 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 If this to certain ex,
tent be so the increase has been too rapid
| for this explanation to cover the whole
i ground.
Fortunately, there Is a bright side to this
dirk picture. In this state, DIR. Roswell
Parks statement on the subject has
aroused the authorities, and already a
laboratory has been established 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 and
medical, bearing on the question lis volu
minous, and the government lof that
country has recently decided to send q
bacteriologist TO Buffalo in order to IN
spect the new laboratory as well as tc
gain fresh ideas. Thus it would seem
that ube fight against cancer promises tc
be as theoretically waged as that against
consumption. and there is reason to hope
| with as good results.