The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1909. CANCER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2592, 28 August 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1909. CANCER.

We make no apology for devoting a large portion of to-day’s supplement to tlie publication of a highly informative article on cancer, for the writer has succeeded in a remarkable maimer in presenting the latest developments of scientific research in regard to this dreaded disease. Cancer is well known as a malignant and virulent disease which is chiefly feared because of the persistency with which it has hitherto defied the medical skill of modern surgeons and investigators. Tuberculosis is a more common ailment and probably still claims a larger number of victims, but the percentage of recoveries is becoming greater year by year, and it is n<sw recognised as a disease that will respond to known curative methods. With cancer, however, recoveries are rare, and once a person is so afflicted the patient becomes the subject of intense commiseration from friends, who know by experience how small are the chances of convalescence. Slowly at first, but afterwards with accelerated speed the growth increases in size, sapping away the vitality of the victim who is frequently compelled to endure agonising tortures during the last stages of existence.. It is scarcely to be wondered at, .therefore, that cancer holds the doubtful distinction of being the most dreaded of all human diseases, partly on account of its repulsiveness and partly because of its incurableness. This very fact has been responsible for great activity on the part of scientific investigators who, for years past, have left no stone unturned to learn all there is to learn of the disease. Mr Burton J. Hendrick, in his interesting article, describes in a fascinating way the manner in which these experts are employing their energies in the health laboratories of the world in a determined endeavor to solve probably the greatest of medical problems. In New Zealand our experience of cancer is unfortunately but a replica of that of the old world. The Year Book for 1908 says: The death rate from cancer is not

so great as that from tubercular diseases, but it is nevertheless a most alarming matter, not only on account of the number of deaths, but because of its progressive increase.

The following table shows the, number of deaths registered yearly as having died from cancer and the percentage of all deaths in the Dominion that have been attributed to cancer :

This table‘ demonstrates that in recent years cancer has been taking an increasing toll of human life in New . :

Zealand, and this despite the comparatively excellent conditions under which our people live. As a matter of fact, modern investigations seem to show that cancer is most prevalent in the case of complex organisations, and the educated and well-to-do sections of a community appear more susceptible to its attack than that portion of the population which in England has been referred to as the “submerged tenth.” Another table in the Year Book indicates that the percentage of deaths from cancer in New Zealand is almost equal as between the sexes. The following table shows an interesting comparison as between England and this Dominion :

The subject is not a pleasant one to discuss, but we have quoted sufficient to show how necessary it is that it should receive most careful attention. Professor Ehrlich, the great German investigator, declares that the beginning of the end- of the cancer problem is in sight, and.. s<Jmc recently discovered facts are of sufficient importance to justify this, yiew. The scientific world is just now in an attitude of keen expectation, and We must all join in the hope that ere long some one of the patient band of brilliant workers —more fortunate than his fellows —will succeed in discovering the underlying cause of cancer, and thus bring the dreaded scourge within the power of medical science.

, ■ Percentage Deaths Deaths of Total ; from CanYear. . from Deaths cer per Cancer. duo to 10.000 of livCancor. ing persons 1898 471 6.50 6.40 ' 1899 •■■■■.I 468 6.09 ,6.24 ,1900 430 5.97 5.63 1901 515 6.75 6.62 1902 536 6.40 6.72 1903 582 6.82 : 7.10 : 1904 571 7.06 6.76 : 1905 566 7.02 6.51 1906 623 7.47 6.96 1907 ; 674 . 6.70 7.33

Deaths from Cancer in every 10,000 Persons Living. Year. New .Zealand. JEngland. 1881 ... 2.69 :.. 5.20 1886 ... 3.68 ... 5.90 1891 ... 4.68 ... 6.92 1891 ... 4.68 ... 6.92 1896 ... 5.50 ... 7.64 1900 ... 5.63 ... 8.28 1905 ... 6.51 8.85 1906 ... 6.96 ... 9.17