Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-10

fatalities as the result of early re-
porting.
Third. The reporting of occupa'
tional diseases enables departments
of health to supplement the efforts of
bureaus of labor in following up cases
to their sources. Thus, the compulsory
reporting of a case of lead poisoning
puts the authorities at once on the
trail of carelessly kept factories where
other workmen may be similarly ex-
posed to possible poisoning.
| Fourth. The thorough registration
of certain diseases, such as pellagra
and cancer, will throw much light up
on the origin of these obscure mala-
dies. We have much to learn with re-
gard to the frequency with which
these diseases occur in the various So
cial groups. There is already suffi-
cient evidence at hand that their in
cidence varies considerably with race,
sex, age, occupation, personal habits,
and other conditions not as yet differ
entiated. Thus, recent study of con-
siderable merit, of cancer in Norway,
showed the very surprising fact that
in that country cancer is more preva-
l0HL eulOHS mSn ludH WOmeE
and that the commonest form of the
disease is the affection of the stomach
In one large series of cases, 65 per
cent of the total were cancers of the
stomach, a condition not previously
noted in any other country. If these
figures be verified, careful research
may lead to the discovery and elimin-
alton of the conditions which are re-
III f~,- 49,
form of the disease. In like manner,
there is evidence that cancer may re-
suit from certain occupations which
involve the continuous irritation of
the skin or other exposed parts of the
body. Thus, there are the peculiar az
cancers of chimney sweeps, of X-ray
workers, and of those engaged in the ).
of arsenical products.
The application of preventative meas 6
ures of those trades should have a ben
eficial effect. Our advance in the con-
troll of cancer, therefore, depends in
large measure upon the cooperation
of the physician, the registrar and the
vital statistician. :.
Fifth. The registration of the pre- 9
ventable diseases, is furthermore, the ,
chief test at our disposal for measur-
ing the efficiency of community con.
troll over them. Millions of dollars are
being expended annually in our cam.
paigns to check their progress. There 8
is, however, considerable difference Z
Of opinion, even among experts, as to D
the best methods to pursue, and the n
several communities are applying
their appropriations in different ways.
1T is particularly appropriate that
the life insurance companies should (
be among the first, to take a forward s
step in the solution of the problem G
for controlling the preyentable dis e
eases. They are most seriously affect
ed through the occurrence of illness
among their policyholders. Not only
are the diseases, to which we have re-
TERED, the cause of a large part of the -
mortality for which claims are paid.
but perhaps equally important, they
are the prime factors in bringing
about these economic disturbances of
he budgets of policyholders which so
argely determine the cancellation of
insurance. No one knows Just how
much of the lapse waste is due TO sick
hess, but there must be a considerable
amount of insurance cancelled each
year because of the effects OF disaSil.
ty upon the family income.