Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-21
CANCER RESEARCH.
The Disease Is Being Studied With
Unprecedented Care.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The origin and nature Of cancer, with
view to the discovery of means for it's pre-
vention or cure, are being studied at this
time with unprecedented thoroughness and
care, and while success has not yet been
achieved, some results of promise and i'm
portance have been attained. 1t is said
that more has been accomplished toward
the solution of problem which has here
tofore bAff1ed the medical science of the
world during the last two years and half
than in all the preceding quarter OF CEN
fury, and conservative students and, OBJ
servers confident that the light is break
ing and that in relatively brief period the
mastery of this dread disease will be &C
coniplished. In the meanwhile some points
of an encouraging character have been de-
terinined with high degree of certainty.
1t has for one thing been ascertail1ed that
there is no good reason for believing that
the occurrence of the malady is increasing
in frequency. This has frequently been as
serted by men who spoke with some au-
thority, but their statement Is now de-
clared to be inaccurate. 1t is based upon
statistics which examination has proved to
be untrustworthy. and 1t is now the better
opinion, 1t is the opinion of the highly
trained experts who are carrying on the
studies Of the London imperial fund. that
cancer IS no more prevalent today than 1t
has ever been. The contrary impression is
attributable to the fact that cases of 1t are
more generally reported than they were
years ago. and also. that improved methods
Of diagnosis detect its development under
circumstances when IT would formerly have
escaped detection. The reiterated assertion
that the disease was rapidly becoming more
common has disagreeaiby impressed the
public mind. 1t Is a RELIEF to De assured that
the contrary is true.
Another point which has been pretty well
If not absolutely settled relates to the Ques-
ton Of heredity. There are probably few
families in which some case of cancer has
not occurred more OF less remotely. The
circumstance is usually as far as possible
concealed, but to many OF those who be-
come aware OF it the anxiety which 1t occa-
sions Is none the less distressing because it
is likely not to be disclosed They worry
about the possibility of their meeting the
same fate as some one or other of their
relatives. and this Is the very worst thing
they could do. The whole subject Is so
obscure that one hesitates to speak Of any
phase of 1t with any assurance, but the
observation that the occurrence OF cancer
is often connected with prolonged mental
anxiety may not be without some signif-
canoe. 1t Is therefore gratifying to note
that the researches of the imperial fund,
while not absolutely disproving, very ser.-I
Dusty discredit the prevailing belief about
the hereditary nature of the afftiction.
They are also reassuring in third direc-
ton They show that the disease Is not In
the slightest degree infectious. 1t can be
communicated from one person to another.
but only by means of surgical operation
of the utmost deiicacy and difficulty, and so
for all practical purposes 1t is no more in
fectious than govt. This means that a pa
tent may be visited without the least risk
and there arez many to whom this will be
welcome information. These are all valu-
able discoveries and 1t may fairly be sup
posed that they will lead to others. Already
the investigators are on the verge of the
great secret That they will presently APP
prefend It need not be doubted.