Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-05-16
DIET
TO PREVENT CANCER
Vermont's Death Rate from This
Disease, the Greatest Of Any
State in the Union, Calls for
Inquiry as to the Cause and
Cure

l.. Duncan Buckley, M. D.. Of New Yorl
city, senior physician Of the New York
Skin and Cancer hospital. discussed in .
most interesting manner in the high
school assembly hall Thursday night the
subject of "Cnacer''
DR.. Buckley was introduced to those
present by Dr. II. c. Tinkham, dean Of
the Medical College. as a physician who
has had "a years experience in skin and
cancer work. The doctor was in this city
to lecture to the students at the Medical
College, he said, thereby filling the place
of Dr.. c. M. Williams of New York, a
frequent lecturer here, but who Is now
at the front. On Wednesday evening, the
specialist also delivered a lecture befora
the Chittenden County Medical society.
Dr. Buckley opened his remarks BY
stating that he was of the decided opinion
that the older men should take the places
Of the younger men referring to DR..
Williams) who had gone to war. Imme-
diately launching into his subject. which
he at times illustrated with the aid Of a
screen, he said that he was trying to
present the medical aspects Of cancer.
which he declared was not necessarily
surgical disease but has constitutional
relations which should be more thoroughly
studied than they have been.
is by far the greatest Of any State in the
Union according to the United States
mortality reports. said the doctor. The
death rate from cancer. he said, has been
rising steadily since the first accurate
records were kept in 1910. that Is. from
60 in each 100000 to S1.S persons In each
100000.
On the other hand, he said the number
Of deaths from tuberculosis has steadily
fallen In the same period. from 2o1.9
per 100000 to 1916 in 1916. In other words.
deaths from cancer have increased in Is
years 1884 per cent, and tuberculosis
| in the same time has fallen almost ex-
actly the same number, 1884 per cent.
| At this rate of increase and decrease
| the deaths from cancer will surpass those
| from tuberculosis in 16 years more. 1t
is high time, therefore, to question Il
our present conception of cancer is cor
| rect. Careful study seems to show that
| in the progress of modern civilization.
| on account Of over Indulgence in meat.
| coffee and alcohol, and with luxurious
| living in general. and perhaps more or
less Incidence, the disease Is produced
by some of these means.
DR.. Buckley advised an absolute vege-
tartan diet with the avoidance Of cof-
| fee and alcohol reasonable exercise and
| every means calculated TO restore ana
carry on metabolism. He believed that
much can be done both in the way Of
| cure and prevention Of the disease by
these means. combined with proper and
internal medication.
| Statistics he had with him from the
| Vermont State Board Of Health showed
that 397 persons died from cancer in Yer
mont in 1914. 3s1 in 1915. 400 in 1916 and
ALB in 1917. an increase in the death rate
from this plague each year.
The disease, he said. should receive
constant attention from physician from
the moment 1t is suspected. As soon az
1t Is suspected, whether there be q lump,
or sore. or other symptoms. 1t should
| be at once cared for, as the earlier it
is treated the more prospect there ia
OF its being cured. Fifty per cent. Of
those who die of cancer come to the
physicians too late to be cured.
The treatment he prescribed was Of the
vegetarian variety, and he exhibited a
diet list which. he said, should be closely
adhered to. However, he said. IL 1t is
decided that an operation is desirable
and wise, this should be done very COM
pletely at the earliest possible moment
But even long after the operation. the
proper medical treatment should never
be neglected to prevent recurrence. The
disease can disappear and remain absent
under careful and efficient dietetic and
medical treatment alone.