The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-09-21
WHEN CANCER IS NOT A DISEASE

The subject of my talk to -day-cancer of the rectum-is more repulsive to me than 1t is 10 you my squeamish friends, but hope I may be permitted to speak about it for the possible
 good this may do a few victims of cancer.
 Dr J. F. Montasue titles chapter in his eX- cellent little book Troubles We, Don't Talk About" (Pippincott) in a striking way: Can cer Is Not Disease!" Then he goes on to ex- ! plain that it is only the result of disease-a deadly disease known as delay. How true that
 is, especially in reference to rectal cancer. Pro- crastination, putting off the first visit to the doctor, the first proper examination, trying to
 believe it is just little piles" this is how the
 deadly disease known as delay manifests itself
 Right here I again suggest to young doctors the great need of communities everywhere for specialists in rectal diseases. Every day in- luiries for such specialists come to me and too often I am unable to name qualified physi- elan in the correspondents city There are hun ireds of cities without such specialists. Here is
 a field which is not overcrowded. | 1 hate to frghten worry anybody, but even | at the risk of losing friends feel bound to give this warning about cancer. Simple piles does | account for occasional bleeding in most cases | in young people, but when person past 40 mo- tices such bleeding, whether he knows he is | subject to piles or not the only safe and sens ible for him is to be examined at once | by a physician. Then. too, it is folly to delay
 consulting the physician when there Is any idea that there is constriction, narrowing or stric- ture which obstructs the passageway. Alternat- ing constipation and diarrhea should serve as
 q warning signal, for this is frequent symptom | in cancer; of course alternating constipation
 and diarrhea just likely to be due to some benign condition.
 newspaper man-most newspaper men are
 good sports-read something I wrote about this
 got badly scared, hurried to his doctor learned his trouble was a minor ailment and then pro- ceeded to take vengeance against me. 1 I don't care-or l wouldn't mind If the old | crab had been anything else but newspaper
 men. The great trouble with me, as health column conductor Is that I'm positively opis-
 thotonic about avoiding morbid suggestion. And there's word that will send lot of 'em to the | dictionary, I'll betcha.
 What constitutes d proper examination in such cases? Not mere examination with gloved finger The proper examination is made with the aid of special instruments, and is quite painless, if skilltully done
 If of the rectum is diagnosed in the early stage there IS good chance for a per
 manent cure. Delay is the fatal feature of can cer The most effective treatment of cancer of
 the rectum is surgery with radium or H7ray. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Banana
 On your recommendation I am giving my
 baby a tcaspoOnful of well ripened banana pulp | every day. lis bowels are already acting better
 and think when he gets more banana he will be all right. When l was in the hospital the doctor would not let me eat any banana, anu
 our old doctor says banana is indigcstibe for d child. (Airs NJ. T.)
 Answer-Oh, Yeh? Weil nowadays we find
 the babies not only digest banana but thrive on | it. Nothing you can get to eat in a hospital IS more dgestiDle, calory for calory, than well rpened banana. When banana is well rip ened and fit for an infant or an invalid 10 eat. the skin is golden yellow hecked with brown spots (not black bruise marks), and the pulp | is soft, not mushy, yellow and sweet Every baby should receive banana from the age of months only part of spoonful daily at first. gradually increasing the ration week by week, l till at or 10 months the baby disposes of one banana day. It is especially valuable for the puny. malnourished infant who is obstinately costive. Banana is cheaper than physic and a 1 iarn sight better for the bimbo. Any lodin To-day, Ladies? 1 noticed some aliusIOn to an iodin ration for keeping grayness out of the hair and out of the feelings. I'm not enOugn over oU to quarre. about, but still my head and heart are both d | bit gray. (H. A. h)
 Answer-Enough, don't tell me any more. Just write your name and address on stamped envelope and mail it to me, saying you wish to try the iodn ration.
 l. Knock Knees Our daughter, aged 5, had knock-knces We got her a hobby morse first, and later a real | pony, and she did great deal of riding. Her legs are now perfectly straight. A good ortho- pedic surgeon (Dr --) suggested this. (L.
 K. R.D
 Answer--Thank you It is a good idea. Even riding pussmobile or velocipede or bicycle Is helpful.
 Oucll-Sour
 | For acldity do you recommend the juice of two lemons before breakfast in q glass of hot
 water for an adult? Is continued of this
 likely to rednce the weight? ~. H.) Answer--No, but If you like lemon tltat way | 1t is perfectly wholesome Don't be sily-lemon
 is food and of course food can not reduce weight