Evening star., 1912-09-08

&
creasing proportion of cures by modern
methods. Even Bashford admits that the
increased death rate in England from cancer
Of the breast and tongue requires further
study. As to changes in the age constitution
Of the population, no such changes have oc-
Cured that are sufficient to account for any
considerable part of the increase in the cancer
death rate Those who so glibly dispose OF
the question on this hypothesis and many
leading scientists and medical men are among
the number-should secure the figures be-
tore expressing dognatic opinion.
WITHOUT some knowledge of the pri-
" mary cause of cancer it is by no means
easy to account for the persistent encroach-
ment of this relentless malady. While the
increased number of individuals in the popu
latlon living at the cancer ages cannot, IN
mathematical sense, account tor the enor-
nous increase in the cancer death rate, the
quality of lives contributing to this increase
IS doubtless an influential factor. A certain
number of lives that escape tuberculosis,
typhoid, and other diseases of early adult
life. owing to improved hygiene, sanitation,
ETC., may, by their feeble resistance, swell
the ranks of cancer victims; but other
causes must be sought to account fully for
the doubling of the cancer death rate in the
past thirty years.
The following figures may throw some
light on this question, showing as they do
that other degenerative diseases common to
middle life and old age have increased to
like degree:
Degenerative Diseases of the Heart, Blood
Vessels, and Kidneys.
Average
1880 1890 1900 19O6-O7-O3
Massachusetts, 26 34.5 36.3 43.5
States 10 24.3 31.4 3s7
That diseases of the heart, blood vessels,
and kidneys have increased one hundred and
four per cent. in the past thirty years in the
States now comprising the registration area,
while the death rate from cancer has IN
creased one hundred and fifteen per cent. in
the same territory during the same period,
IS more than a statistical coincidence. This
parallel is so marked as to compel the thought
that general lack of resistance among the
elderly is a feature of our present civilization.
Cancer follows the flag of prosperity.
Its greatest mortality is among the well fed
those who command the 1uxuries of life. 1t
would appear that we have yet to find our
selves as nation in state OF social or
physical equilibrium. Undigested prosper
ity is behind many of our physical, as well
rs our political and social, ills.
Experiments on mice, at the laboratory
Of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, re-
veal some hereditary tendency to the devel
opment of particular forms of cancer, but
no inheritance of general susceptibility to
che disease. There is an exaggerated fear
N the public mind of a hereditary tendency
to this malady. Undoubtedly it is never
directly inherited; although few family his
tories are entirely free from it, as it is such
IN exceedingly common disease. A lack of
resistance to degenerative diseases in cen
=ra1 may be transmitted; but whether such
ow resistance yields to cancer, Bright's dis
ease, or heart disease depends upon the par
ocular form of life strain or exposure of the
Individual.
Barring the knife, and in some instances
fadium and the x ray, there are no cancer
,ures From time to time the premature
announcement is made of some great dis
covery, which arouses a fallacious hope
among thousands of unfortunates, many of
whom are deferred from seeking the only
certain relief, by surgical means, in order to
daily with experiments that end in failure.
Of fake cancer cures and nostrums it is
difficult to speak with restraint. individuals
who trade on the hopes and fears of cancer
victims deserve to have some particular kind
If Hades invented for their final reception.