The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-03-14
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Rooms Become Contaminated and
Transmit the Disease.
Numerous Instances in support of
This Assertion Are Coming to
the Knowledge of English
Specialists.

The theory that the disease of can
Ger may, through certain media,
prove itself infectious is one which
is meeting with considerable atten-
ton in non-medical as well as in med
ical circles, and the conviction is
gradually spreading that houses,
and more particularly individual
rooms, may become infected with the
germs of this fearful malady, says
the London Express.
Specific instances are constantly
being cited in support of such an as.
sumption, and one of the most telling
which at present has come before our
notice is that of two women con-
tracing the disease after occupying
a house wherein four or five years
previously cancer patient had died
The remarkable part of this story
is that third lady who had resided
in the house between these two ten
ancies also developed the illness after
an interval of close upon two years.
To learn whether such instances
are commonly recognized in the med
ical profession, or whether they are
merely isolated examples to which no
particular Importance may be at
tached an Express representative Wis
tied several cancer specialists the
other day.
At the cancer hospital in Fulham
road the authorities were reticent OH
the subject.
ST haliauo - OH
geon, cautiously, that cancer is
not regarded as contagious in med
ical circles"
A well-known specialist, however,
who has devoted many years to an
exhaustive study of the subject, was
more inclined to wave the profession,
al etiquette which disailows a con-
versation with layman upon mat
tiers medical.
II should be only too pleased" he
said, IF this matter should receive
the attention at the hands of the
public which it undoubtedly deserves.
For my own part. ] am fully con-
WINGED that cancer, without being es-
sentially contagious disease, may
under certain circumstances prove it.
self infectious. Whether this view
is generally entertained / am not pre-.
pared to state. Nevertheless / have
no hesitation in asserting that before
many years have passed precaution-
AIRY measures will be adopted in the
case of cancer patients. as they I'M
doubtedly will in the case of con-
sumptives.
There is nothing at all remark
able in the instances you refer to.
Only few weeks back my attention
was directed to the case of a Young
and apparently healthy girl, who de-
Veloped generous troubles after
sleeping in room wherein her
mother had some years back sue.
cumbed to the disease. This might
possibly be an hereditary case, though
the likelihood is considerably dis
counted by the fact that a third
woman who occupied the room also
contracted the malady.
such. instances are becoming far
too common to be disregarded. Thor
ough disinfection would probably be
an effective remedy, though it is nee
essary in the first instance to trace
the actual causes of infection"
From seaside resort comes a re-
port of family who stayed for a
few weeks at house wherein n
woman had died from cancer about a
year previously. girl who occupied
The patients bedroom subsequently,
developed cancer. not a trace of
which had hitherto existed in the
family.