New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-28
CITY TO FIGHT CANCER.
Board of Health to Cooperate
with Columbia University.
TO USE CROKER FUND
Physicians Urged to Submit
Specimens of Suspected
Tissue for Analysis.

In g new attack on cancer. based imam
ciaIIy on the George Croker Cancer Re
search Fund of Columbia University. the
New York City Department Of Health has
agreed to cooperate with the department.
of pathology Of Columbia University. ac-
cording to an announcement in The Med
lea: Record issued yesterday.
In addition to the combination Of the two
institutions named. ii is hoped that the
movement will receive the active support
of the physicians OF the city. and the uni
versity has asked that in all possible cases
suspected tissue be submitted for analysis
Dr.. Isaac Levin, OF New York. has writ
ten In the same issue. of The Medical Rec
ord" an article on The Importance OF
Early Recognition OF Cancer in which ne
points out that the physicians strongest
hope Of curing the malignant growth les
in the early recognition and early applica-
ton Of the knife
"A malignant growth" writes DR.. Levin.
rs In its early sta ges strictly local
process Cancer affects the general health
OF the patient only at late period OF It's
Development
Early Operation Essential.
No true specific method for the treatment
Of cancer exists to-day. DR. Levin says, in
spite of the great progress of the modern
experimental research as to the disease, but
modern surgery IS capable Of effecting
cure in every case of carcinoma or saT-
coma. provided the operation is performed
in the early stages of the disease. before
disseminat ton into more distant parts OF the
organism takes place
Dr.. Levin illustrates in detail the diff
Guilty of diagnosing cancer in the early
stages with the present knowledge concern
ing that disease, and says that II Is due TO
the fact that cancer has practically no
specific symptoms.
The physician. must bear in mind. ne
writes. the possibility Of the formation or
malignant growth in every patient OF
middle age and must be vatcbful for
symptoms of the disease. The earliest OF
these, he says. in the early stages of can
Ger, is hemorThage. though often mere
cataTrh of the organ in which the growth
has started or even a slightly more than
ordinarily severe pain is the extent OF the
warning He advocates the exploratory OPP
GRAFTON. particularly when there is a posi-
bility of a cancerous growth in the stom-
ach. There is little or no danger in such
an operation, ne says, and the huge impor-
lance of the early discovery of the disease
fully justifes it.
1t may appear too emphatic TO advise
even minor opera ton on such slight
indication" he writes, but one must not
forget that the onset Of cancer is very
insidious. that real characteristic symp-
toms occur only at late period. when
radical cure is impossible. and that on the
other hand, the early recognition OF the
disease means nearly an absolute chance
for radical cure
Urge Physicians Help.
The comparative ease with which sus-
pected tissue may be obtained and sub
mitted TO microscopical exa ANIMATION. he
says. Is the best weapon in the hands Of
physicians with which to combat the dis
ease, and this in conjunction with the fact
that such tissue. examined and correctly
diagnosed in the early stages of the dis
ease. before its effect spreads throughout
the system, makes it imperative that physi-
clans should take this step whenever a
patient of middle age or over shows the
slightest symptoms.
The George Croker Cancer Research
Fund of Columbia University. as well as
the majority of European institutions for
cancer research. says DR.. Levin. realizes
the necessity of awakening the profess
sion 70 the importance of early diagnosis
of cancer
The idea of the new fund. IN its appeal 70
the medical profession Of New York. is that
in each case of suspected tissue given TO
the pathological department of Columbia
for a microsCopiCal examination the at
tending physician who submits the tissue
will furnish with ii the information needed
for the statistical investigation which viii
sum up the results of the new attack on
cancer.
By the middle of October each collection
sta ton of the Board of Health will De sup
piled by Columbia University with Jars TO
he used for the specimens of the cancer
tissue encountered by the Clty's representa-
tives
TIE WEATHER REPORT.