Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-20

medical men In all parts of the world.
The NOVEL; discovery which has just
been announced consists of a chemical
process which produces human cancer
in healthy rabbits and guinea pigs.
and from them is produced a serum
with which rabbits have been rem
human cancer is not claimed at this
time. but the Boston physician is now
planning for the incubation of 600 peo-
pie afflicted with cancer. The observa-
tons OF the immuniZing effect OF the
| serum will take two years after an
operation has been performed before it
is known definitely whether there is
likelihood of recurrence of the growth.
Cancer has long baffled the scientists
of all countries. Little is known about the
Gus growths. except that they very often
follow irritation or Inflammation of Nari-
Gus parts of the body. 1t has not been
proven that there is a true cancer or
ganism, and the question whether cancer
is transferable from one species of liv-
ing being to another is also a matter Of
dispute. Many authorities all over the
world agree today that cancer is not due
to a germ disease. but is due to chemical
changes in the tissue of the body and the
formation of the so-called cancer cells.
Although cancer today stands sixth
among the principal causes of death to
the people of this coun-
High Rate try continued DR..
~ n.o+h. Rucker. lit is seldom
Va D''. thought of as one Of the
greatest menaces to public health. Can
Ger kills seventy-six persons in every
100000 deaths. This is more than three
times the number dying in this country
each year from typhoid fever, which
causes the death of twenty-four persons
in each 100000 deaths. tuberculosis OF
the lungs. on the other hand, causes al
most twice as many deaths as cancer
The death toll from consumption is eX-
cessfve, because the disease affects peo-
pie or all ages, whereas cancer seldom de-
velops in persons under thirty or thirty
five years of age.
Cancer is today the widest spread dis
ease in nature. affecting animals of all
kinds, fish, various insects and even
plants. for. according to the researches
of DR.. Erwin F. Smith of the United
States Agricultural Department there
seems to be definite information to
show that crown-eali of plants is a
species of cancer. 1t is safe to say that
approximately 10000 people die in this
country from cancer each year While
this is less than one-half as many as die
from tuberculosis it is important that
every effort of medical men through
out the world be bent toward the con-
quest OF the peculiar growth and that
everything possible be done to encourage
the men who are working on possible
means of cure or methods of immuniZing
people on whom operate have been
performed In order to prevent recur-
renee of the trouble
Army officers are pleased with the re-
Of ha 10
periments and practi-
Army Food for cal tests in the field
of the dried egg, milk
and chocolate food
which finally has been adopted as the
new form of emergency ration for the
United States Army.
The combined work OF food experts,
chemists and medical officers of the
army. working under the direction Of
Brig. Gen. Henry G. Sharpe of the
QuaEtermaster Corps, has developed an
emergency ration which is thought to be
in advance of any adopted by any other
country. This ration consists Of three
cakes of food, the largest ingredient of
which is chocolate. Each is sufficient for
a meal. and the three cakes which are
the contents of small tin box. which
may be easily carried in the soldiers
pockets, sufficient to keep a man in
full strength and vigor for a days hard
work in the field. The three cakes
weigh only eight ounces. and contain
45.4J per cent chocolate liquor, 7.27 per
cent of dried milk products, 7.27 per
cent of matted milk. 14.55 per cent of
egg albumen. y 80 per cent of powdered
cane Sugar, and 3G4 per cent of cocoa
butter, and proportion of moisture not
to exceed per cent.
This ration. which to many people APP
pears more like a confection than a food,
has strength producing properties far in
excess. it is said of any food Of equal
weight. Gen. Frederick ID. Grant, several
years before his death, made a personal
experiment with the ration similar to the
one which has just been adopted and
on one of his test rides stayed out three
days. subsisting on nothing except the
three cakes which We're intended for a
one days ration. This test was rather
extreme, Gen. Sharpe says and he would
not advise an average man to try to
subsist for more than one day on the
ration which is furnished
The objects of emergency rations are
obvious. Soldiers in the field in actual
warfare never know
UDleCtS OF when food trains are
This Ro+;on going to be cut off
AAAS A'o'loA' from reaching them
on one hand, and on the other they never
know when an engagement is likely to
occur and prevent them from reaching
the place where they had planned to
meet the food trains. Practically all
the governments of the world have made
extensive experiments with emergency
rations. The United States Army at the
present has the one which is perhaps
more compact than any other. and which
provides every element of nutrition which
will tide man over and give him
strength while waiting to receive regular
rations.
The reason why the army has taken
good deal of time-more than four years
In making thorough experiments with the
new emergency ration, was to make sure
that food would be compounded which
would keep in almost any climate indett-
nitely, which could be produced on short
notice and which would be light and pot
require much room in the soldiers haver-
sack Gen. Sharpe thinks that he has
the emergency food which meets every
requirement. One thing which is sure, 1t
is very palatable and is better tasting
tnan many CONNECTIONS. Enlisted men,
however will not have a chance to eat
the food except in case of emergency.
as there is a strict regulation against
opening the tin boxes in which the days
rat!ons are kept unless upon command
of an officer.
RAYMOND W. PULLMAN
The VICE PRESIDENT.