New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-25
WARN OF DANGER
IN SKIN CANCER
Specialists Tell County
Medical Society COndi-
tons Are DeplOrable.

The danger Of cancer o. the skin
from the improper removal OF moles
and other face blemishes. and also from
local irritation. such Is the rubbing
- eyeglasses or the process OF shay
ing. was among the subjects discussed
last evening AZ the Academy OF Medl-
cine.
DR.. Sigmund Polltzer specialist in
dermatology. declared that the number
Of cancer cases among skin diseases
had doubled IN the last ten years. The
physician who ignores or trifes with
cancer OF the skin assumes grave re
sponsbility, he added.
Five specialists in cancer addressed
the meeting Of the County Medical So
cioty. with the cooperation of the
American Society for the Control OF
Cancer. on the subject Of The General
Practitioners possibility in the
Fairly Diagnosis OF Cancer"
After stating that few persons were
ever cured of deep-seatcd cancers, DR.
Charles l.. Gibson. OF New York Hos
pital. commended the more extensive
animation. While many methods like
the X-ray can be used with certain
degree of success, he continued, there
u dS yet no Tcdl CURE
Success can only be hoped for" he
said. "in the adoption of new methods.
General practitioners must be on the
alert. If conditions are so deplorable
in this city. what must they be in the
country at large? The revolution must
start among the doctors rather than
be forced upon them by the revolt Of
laymen."
DR.. Morris Manages. himself a gen.
eral practitioner, laid great stress
upon the ordinary physicians alert
ness. Really early diagnosis" he said
rs always difficult In too many case
cancer is discovered at the autopsy
In large group Of cases early dag
nosis which will permit radical cure,
can be made II the general practi,
toner will only think Of the posi-
bility Of cancer more frequently. Loca
symptoms should arouse suspicion
quicker.
The general practitioner is Devil
dered by host of new methods, all OF
which have failed to stand the test Of
experience, and as result he dis
trusts them all. even the old methods
The surgeons knife is the only cure in
large majority of cases, and the
earlier this is resorted to the better
the outlook.
The sooner the real nature Of a
cancer is recognized or strongly sus-
pected the better it is for the patient
provided surgeons aid is promptly
invoked. Too much stress has been
laid on the X-ray findings. They are
only part OF the examination. After
all, the exploratory operation remains
as the only crucial test"
pr. Howard c. Taylor of Roosevelt
Hospital. discussed the subject from
the point of view of gynecology. and
Dr. Frederic +. Sondern as a patholo-
giSt. The latter emphasized the danger
Of the removal OF tissue from malig-
nant cases through healthy tissue and
stated that for laboratory diagnosis II
was imperative TO have proper piece
Of the tissue from the growth and 10
have it properly preserved Immediately
following its removal.
The American Society for the Con-
troll OF Cancer is entering upon an eX-
tensiye educational campaign which
will be conducted all over the country
during June to awaken the public "a
the facts about cancer.