El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-11

| incidence. For example, in the village
| of Cormeilles. in Normandy, in one
street of 81 houses. IT Of these dwell
! ings in short time furnished q cases
! of cancer.
! There are likewise well recognized
cancer districts"-such, for instance,
| as the township OF Brookfield, near the
center of New York state, where the
death rate from this malady is more
| than double the average for tne rest
of the state. How can this be explained
unless on the theory that a specific
germ, accountable for the mischief, is
more prevalent in that particular re-
gion than elsewhere? How account
| in any other way for the grea, and
rapidly increasing cancer mortality of
! San Francisco?
Heritable Character OF Cancer.
Another interesting point in this con-
nection is the markedly heritable char
acter of cancer 1t seems to run in
families In some families it is very
prevalent, attacking victim after VIC
tim On the other hand, there are
families which appear to be immune to
the disease Here is a fact which does
not point necessarily to the existence
of a germ, but may fairly be regarded
as an indication in that direction.
In the meantime, while the scientists
are trying so hard to fight it, the dis
ease is rapidly gaining round, not only
in this country. but everywhere. Its
death rate all over the world has in
creased something like 40 percent dur
ing the last 20 years. Very soon, in
the United States. it will pass and out
run tuberculosis as destroyer of hu-
man life. After So years of age, one
man in every II dies of cancer, and
one woman in every nine. 1t is mall
ady Of later life. Under 40 years of
age deaths from it are rare But the
age of greatest liability is from so to
81 One in every five women who die
in that period of their lives is killed
by this frightful disease.
Cancer is the only disease which at
the present time is on the increase.
During the present year it will kill
about $4,000 persons in the United
States. Nobody is exempt It frequent
uals. and the well-to-do are not less
subject to it than the poor. Women
are much more liable to it than men.
Is Meat Eating ResponsibIes
Assuming, for the sake of argument,
that there is a germ of cancer, how
are We to suppose that it is carried?
Through what agency is it conveyed?
Is it in food? Shall meat eating be
held accountable? Some theorists have
about raw vegetables The tomato has
been specifically accused. And what
about beer? The greatest beer drink
ing districts Of Germany have the high
est cancer rate. Bavaria heading the
list. Then there is the idea that some
Insect is the carrier The bedbug has
been suspected But, If the bedbug
were guilty, cancer ought certainly to
be far more prevalent in filthy slums
-, 1--4-1 f-T -
rich, such as upper Fifth avenue. in
New York. But it isn't
Just at present the government is
attacking the problem from a new
point OF view, through the study of
cancer in fishes For this purpose cor
gress recently appropriated the sum of
$4,000, and the work is 10 be carried
on in Connection with the Investigations
at the laboratory in Buffalo Fishes.
1t appears, are very liable to cancer.
a certain form of which has become
actually epidemic in two of Uncln Sans
biggest trout hatcheries. 1t attacks the
thyroid gland, in the throat, causing a
tumor which assumes a malignant
chara cter. and which is in all respects
exactly like a corresponding type of
cancer in man
Cancer is almost unknown among
wild fishes. Only among domesticated
trout has it developed. the circurn-
stances being such as to point to tie
conclusion that a germ is concerned.
The evidence Of q specific irfatic7.
which rapidly spreads, is Overwhelming.
But how is this infection carried? Rv
water, almost undoubtedly But This
is question not yet settled 1t will
surely be determined before long bv
the experiments of the fisheries bureau.
one of which will consist in allowing
water TO flow from a pool containing
cancerous trout into another pool con-
tanning only healthy trout. If the lat
ter catch the disease, the theory of a
water borne germ will be pretty we'll
established
front W. Human Cancer.
This is deemed very important. be-
cause, in all likelihood, front cancer
and human cancer are derived from a
common origin Once discover the
source of trout cancer. and we NAV
know the cause of the malady in hu-
man beings. If it proves to be a germ
carried by water, the next step will
be to determine, whence the microbe
is originally derived. A bit of evidence
in favor of this notion. by the wav.
was afforded not long ago by the town
Of Luckau. in Germany where "a cases
of cancer occurred within an area Gov
cred by three city blocks The pIaeue
seemed TO follow the course of filthy
ditch. which ran through the gardens
of the afflicted houses, and the water
Of which was used by the people for
vegetables.
Quacks who advertise to cure cancer |
without the use of the knife are re- !
sponsible for a great many deaths. bed
cause they prevent people from resort |
ing while there is yet time to surgical /
treatment which alone. up to the pres |
ent time, has availed to effect a cure |
Especially in middle life and after. one |
should look with suspicion upon any /
lump or swelling that has an abnormal |
anrearance. Probably it is unimnor- |
tant. but one should make sure by /
doctor If it be a cancer.
and is promptly removed, it will not |
return in four cases out Of five But /
If allowed to remain, it means sure
neath Rene Bache
says: Abraham Lincoln was an acute
man. But we erect no monuments 70 |
We set aside no davs for
h