Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-30

M States today there more than SOU,OOO
w persons afflicted with cancer, and about
$4,000 of these will die during the year. The most
tragic part OF this condition is the fact that more
than half of these deaths preventable and half
of the remaining fatal might have been cured
by early operation. For, while science does not
yet know the exact nature of cancer, it does know
the conditions which lead to its development and
these conditions may in large measure be con-
trolled The terrible mortality from cancer Is
therefore largely due to ignorance
Cancer is an abnormal growth of tissue within
the body. Certain cells in the embryonic stage
fail to develop and perform their normal functions
and the multiplication of these useless cells form
the tumor What the cells to be checked in
their normal development is not yet known, al
though there are several plausible theories. But
the predisposing conditions which lead to this
abnormal growth are known, and may be con-
troIled.
Thus cancer nearly always forms in some lesion
upon the body, such wart, mole, bruised
or infected spot This lesion becomes rrtated, and
the growth of abnormal cells begins.
The age of the individual plays an important
part in susceptibility to cancer; for the common
form of is essentially disease of later life,
when some of the tissues have become weakened.
In spite of popular opinion to the contrary,
is not hereditary disease. Certain "a mi
lies may have tissues which develop cancer more
readily than Others but this is only small factor
in the development of the disease. Since one out
of every nine women and one out of every thirteen
die of cancer it is not surprising tnat often
several cases should occur in the same family
Equally fallacious is the belief that cancer is
gious in the sense that it be carried from
one person to another, and there is no proof that
it is contagious under any circumstances.
Cancer is said by statisticans to De on the IN
crease Since the average human life has been
heightened about twenty years since 1860, the num-
Der of persons who of the age most susceptible
to cancer has been increased, and therefore the
relative number of cases has grown. But there is
no evidence that is more prevalent now than
ever before, in the sense that one is more apt 10
contract it. At the same time, the treatment Oh
cancer is making cures constantly more frequent.
The of the X-ray in diagonisis was great 1or-
Had or,iT n
often cured by simple operation, while malignant
growths often successfully removed by more
thorough operations.
Certain occupations may lead to the contraction
of cancer Workers in analine dyes absorb dele
terious substances, which get into the urine ano
sometimes causes cancer OF the BLADDER CoDaN
workers often have cancer of the lungs from the
inhalation Of irritating particles of cobalt, and
Workers in develop irritations at points where
the tar into contact with the SKIN whlcn may
develop into cancer. SCOT has Irritating effect on
the skin and the frequency of cancer or the groin
among chimney sweeps is proof OF this Those
who work in arsenic and its preparations some
times absorb enough to overstmulate the skin, and
cancer, especially of the hands and feet, may de-
velop. Persons working with the H-ray OFTEN de-
velop dermatitis of the hands leading TO cancer:
There are several kinds of cancer, some OF
which attack the skin, mucus membranes and
secreting glands while others attack the bones,
muscles and connective tissues 1t is believed that
in all of them some lesions-i. e., some point OF
irritation is necessary before the cancer can FORM
1t is probable that majority OF human beings are
immune to cancer, that lesser nunoer possess d
partial immunity while minority are without the
protective agencies which render the LESSONS harm
less The condition of such persons is described
"precancerous.
The LESSONS which may lead to cancer are class-
fed as % congenital, GU traumatic, CD chronic
irritative The first class includes all sorts or
moies warts and benign tumors. The second in
cludes INJURIES such as bruises, wounds and burns
The third class includes all sorts OF Mechanical
chemical and infectious irrtations, such as those
caused by occupation and is the greatest factor In
the production of cancer. The potency OF chronic
irritation in producing cancer has been proved In