The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-06

in the time of Plato, in the fourth cen
fury before Christ. 1t is not only the
oldest Greek manuscript known, but is
the first of the writings of Timotheus that
remains. II is stated that the Oldest
Greek papyri hitherto discovered in
Egypt is of the third century before
Christ. There are some strange omissions,
it is said, in the newly-found manuscript.
There is no mention of the famous repulse
of the Persians which has always been
reckoned among the chief glories of
Athens, but in this poem there is no men
ton of Salamis, Themistocles, Athens or
any proper name. The evident purpose of
eliminating Athens entirely from the ac-
count of one of her most glorious achieve
ments is interpreted by the discoveries
of the papyrus as rejecting that forum
ately brief period when Ionian ingratitude
dreamed of Greek freedom without
Athens" says Prof E. ]. Goodspeed in
"Biblia," for June last"
In England insanity and cancer show a
heavy, steady increase. The increase in
insanity is no doubt owing in a consider
axle degree to drink. Since from 1890 to
1900-ten years-the increase in cancer in
every 100000 persons was from SIS per
cent to S2.S per cent. In 1900, of nearly
every twenty deaths one was caused by
cancer But England is not alone, un-
fortunately. In Prussia, Holland and Nor
way the increase in ten years has been so
per cent. 1t is now understood that can
Ger is contagious. DR.. Alfred Wolff writes
in London Nineteenth Century that 1T re
quires "a prolonged exposure to the dis
ease to cause cancer to be communicated.
He writes that in France, Germany and
Austria, as in England. "there are distinct
areas of high cancer mortality, suggesting
specific cause endemic in certain locall-
ties. The number of cancer cases in given
streets or in what are known as cancer
houses, and the exceptionally high death
rate from cancer among domestic servants
and nurses, are among the proofs OF the
contagious character of cancer" He says
that beer drinking causes it, and states
that "all districts of high cancer mortality
are districts in which beer or cider is
largely consumed In Great Britain with
the increase in mortality from cancer there
has been also a great increase in beer
guzZling. In 1885, there were q gallons
of beer drunk per head. In 1900 the
amount had risen to 3112 gallons per head.
In the German Empire the rise III the beer
drinking was from 80 to I.5 gallons per
head in fifteen years. | cite again from
DR.. Wolff: "In countries such as Italy
and Hungary, in which the consumption
of beer is small, the mortality from car
cnomatous disease is far below the aver
age. In France the fact has already
been mentioned that beer is largely con-
sumed in those departments i'll which the
cancer rate is exceptionally high although
cider also is here one of tne staple drinl1s)
and it may be pointed out that the rate
is particularly low in many OF those de-
partments in the wine growing districts In
which beer is an unusual luxury.
I'm Germany, from return lately made
to Parliament, it appears that Bavaria,
Baden, and Wurtemberg, are the three
states showing the largest consumption
of beer. and it will be seen that these all
figure in the list of those having a high
cancer rate" This is another strong ar
gument against the consuming drink
habit 1t consumes the pocket and
consumes life, and spreads fatal horrible
disease
THEODORE BRYANT KINGSBURY.
Wilmington, N c., Sept 5, 1903