The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-03
CANCERS REPORTED
TO Be INCREASING
Results Of Second Interna.
tional Conference Are
Not Encouraging.

New York. March s,-The present
status of cancer is discussed in the
Medical Record. The comments OF
the writer Is based on the second In
ternationaI conference for the study
Of cancer. which was held recently in
Paris. The first conference was held
In Heidelberg and Frankfort in 1906.
The writer says:
During the interim important CON-
mittcc work was carried out. the mat
ter of research has been organized
throughout the world. and now in this
second meeting we are in a position
20 understand something of what has
been done along the lines projected
during the last four years. The spe-
cial papers read and the transactions
as whole will naturally be slow in
reaching the public. but the Nun
chcner Medizinische Wochenschrift
published Won Czerny's inaugural ad-
dress. This was delivered before a
large and distinguished audience of
laymcn and physicians alike. Off
ctal Paris also was largely represent
cd.
Increase and Decrease.
statistics. despite their fallacious-
ness. we're first discussed by the
speaker. The disease seems to be on
the increase among all cultured folk.
But certain limited localities report
n notable decrease. This discrepancy
In highly significant. for II involves
the whole subject of the incidence Of
cancer. Thus we find. say. a 80 per
cent. increase in recent years in Ger.
tain countries; yet If We consider only
restricted localities We may be justi.
fled In concluding that the disease is
not only on the wanc. but actually ex.
tinct. tfOr example. in many restricted
localities. not a single cancer death
has occurred for twenty-five yearsD
surely this absence of cancer in
certain out-of.the-way localities car
not be an accident. From such data
nearly every theory Of cancer might
receive support-especialiy those OF
contagion. food soil. inheritance. not
w UueHtIoH many OtueISs VI SIeda siS
nificance In the collection Of stats
tistics Is the anatomical incidence OF
the disease; but to this Is opposed the
fact that I'm localities where cancer Is
especially prevalent We are likely t.
find all locations of the disease.
Parasite Theory.
Won CZerny admits the cogency Of
parasite theory of cancer rs long as
we follow statistics. II we pursue
this plan there is as much support o
such theory as in the case of any in
fictitious disease. Aside from the ar
gument furnished by statistics the
bulk of the evidence tends to antagon
izc a parasite theory. We find a wide
line of demarkation between two
groups. each Of which is astrological
ly and clinically malignant
1.-THE former may be described as
superficial. external, slowly growing
originating in epidermal tissue-witl
an antecedent stage Of inflammation
or irritation-causing local metasta
ses only. and hence largely amenabl'
to prompt surgical treatment. Blu
the other type consists chiefly o
deeply placed cancers. attacking thu
.viscera. bones. etc. rapidly CROWN:
and highly disposed to cause metasta
ses and cachcxia. Treatment Of sucl
cases is important
THE two types of cancer cannot b.
sharply separated clinically. Man.
Hrowths which are technically super
fetal and cpitcliomatous may accord
Ing to their location. grow rapidly
and with the aid of their acute loca
mctastases may quickly wear out tn,
patient. Certain growing technical.
local. but inaccessible because Of 10
cation. may interfere with life indi