The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-09
CANCER NOT |NCURABLf,
ASSERTS DR.. BLOODG0OD
Johns Hopkins Specialist Says Early
Symptoms Should BE
Watched.
WATT TOO long THROUGH FEAR
Fear in Early Stages Instead Of
Later Would Give Chance for Cure,
Even Up to 100 Per Cent of Cases,
Says Scientist.

Cancer is not the incurabIe disease
of common belief. and II early warn
ings are needed. the majority of the
cases can be successfully check ed
This cheering message was spok en- last
night by DR.. Joseph Colt Bloodgood,
/ OF the medical faculty of Johns Hop
kins University, Baltimore. before n
large congregation In Park Place Meth
odist Church, where he spoke on What
Every One Should Know About Cam
GER The address was one of the many
made yesterday in local churches In
connection with Health Sunday"
Education is the best weapon, stated
the noted surgeon. with which to fight
, the dread disease. If the public can
he taught to know the symptoms. and
TO act quickly when warned, the huge
death percentage from cancer could be
reduced TO a minimum. The place to
start this instruction Is at the be-
ginning of the disease, whom the dis
comfort is SO slight that the patient
does not seek advice
Fear the beginning and not the end
OF cancer" he said. We should edu-
cate ourselves to fear the first an
proach of the disease. and not to wait
until 1t is In the advanced stages. Fear
at the first appearance of any sus-
picious sign Will be of great value and
II this fear will induce patients 10 seek
advice In the early stage. the chance
IA cure is best, even up TO 100 per
cent.
PAIN IS LATE SYMPTOM
IN EXTERNAL CANCER
The first warnings of cancer do not
diner from diseases that are not can
GER THIS in an unfortunate state of
affairs. Pain is late symptom in ex-
ternal cancer, and If one waits for
pain. one often waits too long. There
fha
less dangerous diseases. we must be
on our guard. and the people must be
educated about these warnings and
taught to seek examination which Will
lead to a diagnosis.
Cancer never begins in a healthy
spot. In external cancer the warning
is always something first to no seen
with the eye o. felt with the finger.
These first signs are warts moles, little
areas covered with a scab, or an un-
healed wound, or may simply be a lit
tie lump beneath the skin
1T is not for the patient TO decide
whether these visible and paipable alb
normaiities are to be let alone or not.
but for the physician to determine"
CDR. Bloodgood told his audience that
cancer was not IA hereditary disease,
nor was 1t one of the blood The prir-
ciple thing to do was to heed simple
warnings, and to insist on an exami-
idtioIi from the FAMILY physician.
Examination FIRST" he said. when
you consult n physician insist upon a
thorough examination, and not on
treatment People object and fear an
examination. but they must be educated
out of this dread. Physicians who look
at the tongue and feel the pulse are
not much better than none at all in
these cases. and the patient should
have the benefit of the Instruments de-
signed by medical experts to fight dis
cases."
DEATH. RATE FROM
CANCER IS ENORMOUS
During tho year 1913 Dr. Bloodgood
stated, $4,000 recorded deaths resulted
from cancer in this country alone and
many States keep no records Men
and women In the prime OF life are
stricken. Men with the Responsible
ties of family, and mothers with child
rem. Any facts that would reduce this
fatality, he said, were therefore i'm
Iortant.
III we educate the women they will
take care of the men," he said Woman's
influence Is greater than her vote be-
cause most OF the great civic move
ments are started by her. The prom
sanda can easily be spread by her, and
the subject Of cancer can best be told
To her by women physicians"
DR.. Bloodgood prefaced his address
with a general discussion of health
measures and dealt particularly with
preventative measures Of both, State
and individual His principal talk,
however, was on cancer, and he had an
interested audience.