Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-12-01
BOARD OF HEALTH
ISSUES BULLETIN
Death From Cancer in Wisconsin
Shows Increase.
ANNUAL DEATH RATE 1.647
State Body Declares Disease Proves
Fatal in Over 90 Per Cent of
Cases Because Of ignorance
and Neglect.

other states. Wisconsin's mortality
from cancer shows a steady rise.
From lob deaths in 1908. to 1851 in
rupted increase. For the nation as
a whole the same condition is true.
The average annual death rate from
cancer IN Wisconsin in the last seven
years was i.647 At ages over forty.
one person in II dies of cancer.
Largely because of public ignor-
ance and neglect" declares the state
board of health in a special cancer
bulletin, cancer now proves fatal in
over 80 per cent of the cases.
These precautions are suggested in
the bulletin;
Fear the beginning of cancer.
Never be afraid to know the truth.
Amy painless lump or sore appear
ing on your body should be examined
by your physician.
by the time a cancer las become
painful the best chance for its cure
has passed.
But even a painful cancer can be
removed permanently if it has not ex-
tended too far beyond the place where
it began.
Medicine which relieves pain does
not have any effect upon the disease
itself. it simply produces a period of
freedom from discomfort and there
fore delays the proper treatment"
Census statistics for 1913 show that
cancer caused 49.92S deaths in the
registration states. the death rate be-
ing 1873 per 100000 population. as COM
pared with a rate of "a during the
preceding year. In 1900 this state
was down to So per 100000 population.
Cancer of the stomach and liver is
preponderant. approximately 40 per
cent of all deaths from this disease
being caused by cancers OF these or
gans. The average age at death was
SOS.
The census report does not include
Milwaukee in a list of large cities
where high mortality from cancer pre-
walls. Neither is Wisconsin listed
with states of high mortality. Yer
mont led the states with ILL deaths
from cancer per 100000 people.
Cancer usually begins in some I'M
healthy spot or some point of local
irritation" says the health boards bull
letin. In external cancer there is
something to be seen or felt. such as
wart, a mole, lump or a scab. or
an unhealed wound or sore Pain is
rarely present. Cancer inside the
body is often recognized by symptoms
before a lump can be seen or felt.
Persistent indigestion. with loss of
weight and change of color. is always
especially suspicious. The early and
hopeful stages of cancer are usually
painless.
Never treat moles and warts with
caustic; the whole lesion. with it's so
called roots, should be removed.
"A burn on the tongue or lip from
smoking is a source of danger if it
does not heal within 4 few months.
If small ulcer appears on the tongue
consult a surgeon at once. Cancer of
the tongue is the most malignant form
of the disease.
Beware of that ragged tooth. Con-
suit dentist, and If the ulcer does not
heal soon. it is a surgeons task.
"Gallstones should be removed.
From to IA per cent of all cases are
followed by cancer.
Finally, beware of quack remedies
and their bogus testimonials. Many
conditions resemble cancer. and be-
hind these, which are not cancer and
which would tend to heal without
treatment, the cancer specialists
take their stand and make their false
claims"
This message OF hope is given to
| Wisconsin sufferers:
"'rhe only cure for cancer is to re-
move every vestige Of the disease.
1.-THE only sure way TO do this is
by surgical operation.
''If taken at the beginning, the ma
| jority of cancer cases are durable.
Records of our best hospitals prove
that the chances of ,ure are very high
with early operation. and that these
! chances decrease with every day OF
delay"