Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-05-28
EXHAUSTIVE WORK
ON CANCER IS OUT
Figures Compiled on Deaths From
the Disease Show Many Inter-
esting Facts.
upsETs MANY SET OPINIONS


One Of the most exhaustive works
on cancer ever produced has been
prepared by Frederick L. Hoffman,
statistician for the Prudential Life
Insurance company. Though it leads
nowhere, so far as pointing the way
10 a cure for the disease, the facts
presented are most interesting, up
setting though they do nearly all
congratulated opinions or preju-
diees regarding the disease,
According to investigation, there
are 100000 deaths annually in the
civilized world from this disease, and
10000 deaths III the United States.
But right here the statistcians sug-
gest that their figures may mean but
little after all, since the figures are
for only the 450,000,000 people in civ
ilized countries, which comprise only
% per cent Of the worlds total popu-
lation.
In this country the deaths from
cancer are about seventy-eight in
every 100000 people. Yet in this
particular there is wide range. In
Seattle the ratio is l02 to the 100000,
and in Savannah only A. In places
where males predominant the disease
is less frequent, and among women
the married ones are peculiarly SUBJ
ject to the complaint.
Figures Favor Printers.
Printers, pressmen and other per-
sons in occupations making them
more subject than the majority to
tuberculosis are less apt to have cam
GER
Miners are found to be compare
lively exempt Men who work with
pitch and tar have the disease more
than others. Chimney sweeps are
high in the list, except where they
have long brooms.
The investigation upsets the theory
held by many that the apparent in
crease Of cancer is due 10 the larger
number OF people who attain 10 ma
turc years than formerly. II is shown
also that there is nothing in the the.
DRY Of others that II many, who died
OF smallpox, typhoid fever or other
diseases. had lived 10 mature years,
they would have been victims Of this
disease.
Those attacked by cancer are
usually the most robust in health,
but this is true only Of those in ma
ture years who have the disease.
Those OF a younger age, who die OF
the disease, are apt to be those who
have been sickly.
Liquor Increases Tendency.
It is found that the use Of alco-
hoIie liquors and tobacco increases
the tendency to the disease.
Men have the affection perhaps
most OF all in the digestive organs,
and women are peculiarly subject to
cancer OF the breast Yet there seems
to be no reason for the fact that in
Japan there are only one-tenth as
many cases Of cancer Of the breast in
proportion as there are In England.
Some races are comparatively ex-
empt from the disease, though since
the abolition OF slavery cancer, as
we'll as tuberculosis, has increased
among negroes. Among Indians the
proportion is only twenty-nine to the
100000
The average age OF men dying from
this disease is about sixty. The av-
craRe age Of women victims is about
fifty-eight.
Disease Not Communicable.
There is no evidence whatever that
the disease is communicable in any
way. Nor is there any evidence that
the disease is inherited. The figures
under this head show that heredity
plays an even smaller part in the dis
ease than IN the case of tuberculosis.
Those living in cold climates are
more subject TO cancer than those
living near the equator, and in Mex
leo those living in the table lands are
more often victims than those resid-
ing in the lowlands.
Omaha ranks thirteenth among the
large cities of the country, with a
ratio OF S5.5, figure somewhat above
the average Next TO Seattle the six
cities having the highest ratio are
Boston, Providence, Los Angeles,
Cincinnati, Hartford and New Haven.
Chicago ranks twenty-third and Min
neapolis thirty-third. New York is
next below Chicago.
Negetarians are comparatively ex-
empt from the disease, and there arc
only few cancers OF the digestive
organs among the non-meat eating
population.
Living Near Water.
One authority insists that persons
living near water are more subject to
the disease than those living inland
The assurance IS given that can
Ger is no more likely to be caused by
worry than smallpox or scarlet fever
The disease is rare among Jews
living according 10 the ritual
Recurrence 81 the disease after an
operation occurs within six months in
"a per cent 81 an tested eases
Out 81 slA operations inr cancer at
Rochester Mimi. about IA per cent
died later ~ cancer One patient re-
covered and then died ~ cancer
nearly ~ years after the operation
Those wellstnsd0 are moro subject
ta the disease than the poor. indteate
inw the possible danger 81 oycuteds
ins.