Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-25

risen from 6.6 per 100000 living in 1890 to
1913 in 1900. In 1900 nearly, one in every
twenty deaths was caused by cancer, and
rather more than one In every twelve
deaths over thirty-fve years of age An in
crease of more than 30 per cent during ten
years Is recorded In Prussia. Holland and
Norway. DR.. Alfred Wolff. on the increase
of cancer. proceeds to draw important in
ferences from further figures of cancer
mortality in different parts of France, Ger
many and Austria.
l. In all three countries. as In England
there are distinct areas of high cancer
mortality, suggesting q specific cause en-
demic In certain localities. The number of
cancer cases in given streets, or in what
are known as cancer houses. and the ex-
ceptionally high death rate from cancer
among the proofs Of the contagious charac-
ter of cancer. The writer expects that the
mfcro-Organisms to which cancer Is due
viii before long be discovered. TT is fairly
ure to the contagion is required for the pro-
duction of the disease"
3 All districts of high cancer mortality
are districts in which beer or cider is large
iy consumed. The writer says:
The evidence appeared to be extremely
convincing In SO far as there has been q
real increase II ths mortality it may not
improbably bear a direct relation to the in
creased consumption of beer in recent
years The amount consumed in the united
Kingdom. which was twenty-seven gallons
head in 1885. wassthirty-one and half
gallons head In 1860: and in the German
empire the consumption rose In the same
PERIOD from ninety to 125 liters a head, In
countries such as Italy and Hungary in
which the CONSUMPTION OF beer is small.
the mortality from carcinOmatous disease
Is far below the average In France the
fact has already been mentioned that beer
is largely consumed In those departments
IN which the cancer rate is exceptionally
nl8h (although cider also Is here one Of the
staple drinks. and 1t may be pointed ont
that the rate is particularly low in MANY
OF those departments in the wine-growfnx
districts In which beer is an unusual lux
ury.
I'm Germany. from a return lately mazda
to parliament. 1t appears that Bavaria.
Baden and Wurttemberg are the three
beer. and 1t will be seen that these al
figure In the list of those having q high
cancer rate In Austria Salzburg is stated
TO De the province in which most beer is
consumed followed at some distance nv
Bohemia and upper and lower Austria. In
no country could any instance be discov-
cred in which a large consumption of heer
was accompanied by low cancer noorta1
ity." A0' 'ea-
1t Is not alcohol that is the CAUSE hit
the malt ITSELF 40
g. Cancer is most prevalent in Wildwood
WarWlcksh1re. the best-wooded English
countries. are among the most cancerous
Ihese conclusions are confirmed by those
OF the United States OF America which
nave compulsory registration of death. The
converse OF this conclusion Is supplied bv
the fact that districts deprived Of timber
nave rev cases Of cancer.
IN our own country while SUSSEX and
Warwlckshire. and. 1t may be added Dew
onsnire. nave an alarming number of
deaths from malignant disease. the h.ra
i ianas OF the Black country are among the
from cancer In the west Of Ireland. whicb
mas oeen almost entirely deforested, is ex-
tremely low. The facts on this point were
everywhere so striking that they seemed
20 es.aDnsn beyond question that a focus
OF cancer Infection is to be found in rerions
Astounding in woods and water"
Inc writer. in conclusion urges that IN
the wooded districts the circle OF inou,rv
snouid be narrowed down until the exact
Spots can De found in which the disease 10
nost persistent and the kind of tree nra-
valnnS there noted He also urges that
every enort should be made to discover
Wmcn constituent of beer It is that coro.
municates the deadly influence. WILL