The Telegram. — 1899-07-11 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

THE CAUSE OF CANCER.  Dr. Lambert Lack, one of the honorary surgeons to the Golden Square Throat Hospital, has made a discovery in the course of exhaustive investigations into the nature of cancer which is certain to hare very far-reaching results. The details of the discovery are not yet public property, but it is quite certain that it has nothing to do with any "cancer g( rni."  The so-call«d "cancer germ" is an ordinary harmless germ alway, present in cancer, but having nothmg at all to do with the birth and growth of that disease. _ .  Dr. Lack's experiments proved that cancer is always due to particular injury to the basement membrane of mucus toembrapea and allied structures. Actine on this knowleake. Dr. Lack has actually produced cancer luso/no of the lower animals. .  --The experiments no far have been pronounced by a select committee of the Pathological Society to be practically conclusive. But even now, notwithstanding the magnitude of the results already actually obtained, they are only in the first stages ; and it is confidently predicted that the discovery will prove one of the greatest of its kind in modern times, and one lull of promise of relief for those who are afff,cted with what is undoubtedly the moss terrible and painful scourge of the human body. Apropos of the recent statemente as to discover. ire regarding the cause of cancer, Sir Charles Cameron, himself a pathologist, will on Tuesday draw attention, in the form of a question, to the fact that the number of deaths regia,erecl as from this fell de-ease has within the past thirty years more than doubled, and suggests whether, in view of this increase, the President of the Local Government Board will consider the expediency of appointing a Commission of Inquiry into the subject for the purpose, if possible, of devising means whereby the frequency of the disease may be di. niinished. The increase in the mortality from cancer in the State of New V ork has induced the Legislature of that State to endow a laboratory at Buffalo for the study of the disease, and Sir Charles asks that the British Embassy at Washington should be requested to procure copies of any orfiztial reports on the subject of the institution of the establishment in question and its working. In medical circles the announcement that Dr. Lambert Lack, one of the honorary surgeons to Golden Square Throat Hospital, has discovered the Call, of cancer has created considerable interest. Itl?iverr, beyond couti g the original  statement, Dr. Lack declines to give any information, pleading the sevsrities of medical etiquette and his devird to rive all the details to the medical paten'. An interesting question In, how will the discovery affcct tue possiudity of curing cancer?  Italy contemplates annexing Haheita, to put a detio,te end to Russian intrigues at that place.  Owing to an extensive strike of coal-heavers for increased wages, several shipe of the Mediterranean ScvlittiroU are coaling •witti their own men frail) COlflOti in the Harbour o Nlttlik. pii% ate in the Niaucheetor Regiment, stationed at GlUribitg.r, flue, says a correspondent, ' tocsins is cartridge to make a ferrule for his when it exploded. lie lust All eye. The "trailh Government have abstained from pressing ite otional claim for the removal of a Chinese Governor in connection with the murder ei the iniesionary, thh -ier v. Fleming.