Omaha daily bee., 1915-05-27

ious matter IL resort to II Is not delayed
and with this understandings that once
tho affected tissues are thoroughly re.
moved there is no danger OF a recurrence
The one thing for both laynan and
surgeon to remember is that cancer IL
a disease that will easily get the upper
hand IL allowed 20 go lie own way.
case Of that kind once came under my
own observation. A gentleman friend OF
mine discovered on his side a lump OF
scarcity noticeable dimensions. He
thought little Of It, but after a time, as
II gave slight signs OF endorsement. he
called TO II the attention Of a surgeon
one Of the most distinguished in eastern
Massachusetts. The surgeon examined
t. and gave my friend the consolatory in
formation that II was nothing that need
give him anxiety, aud that the best
thing TO do was to think nothing about
IL. II has always seemed to me that
suit might have been entered for mai
practice.
Anyhow the lump continued to grow.
and the patient. shrinking from notify
ms his friends OF what was going on,
conecienuousy kept his condition to
himself. The result was that the next
time he offered himself 60 a surgeons
examination he was Immediately ordered
to the hosvItal TO he prepared for the
operation table. Thanks to a good con-
stltution and the genius OF a surgeon
that did not come from eastern Massa-
ohusetts. he survived the treatement.
which was an awfuliy severe one and
which might have been avoided II the
patient had not been 80 reticent. and n
| ha haI ~ ,tft
cernment or the franknsss TO state things
as they were.
have never studied medicine and. OF
course, never sued for admission within
the sacred precincts Of the Medical so
clety. but cases of the kind Just stated
are self-explanatory even to the non-pro-
fessional mind, and II is very much TO be
desired that laymen, saying nothing
about physicians and surgeons. should
gain from Dr. Basnbridges mastery work
as much as possible of its practical con-
tents.
Cancer IL a mysterious and terrible
soourge. and Ia becoming Increasingly de-
structive In its ravages. Rich and poor.
are its victims. IL thrives in the open.
country and IN the eongested tenement,
house districts. and IL no raspecter OF.
persons A slight invariable irritation on
the outer or inner surface of the body is-
a sufficient cause for the development
of the ''neoplRem,'
without there being any advantage in
becoming nervous and foreboding In re-
gard to the matter. but. on the contrary,
a decided disadvantage, yet enough is
known regarding the disease. even as Ia
true OF tuberculosis, 10 render wise a GER
tain amount OF rational watchfulness over
ones self Nature holds out danger sig
nails. We need not hunt for them. but
must respect them on their appearance.
Tuberculosis has been widely exploited.
Not 80 cancer.
One object OF the book Is TO bring the
, whole matter closer to the scientific re-
gard Of the medical fraternity and closer
to the unfiurried interest and attention
Of non-professionals. The author. there
fore. urges emphatically campaign OF
education, 20 be maintained first among
those who are scientifically competent to
appreciate the biological details OF the
subject. and then among those whose
training permits OF their going no farther
than to accept and practice upon such
practical aspects Of the problem as can
be utilized TO individual security and re-
covery.