Cancer.

The alarming increase in this colony of the class of diseases called cancer is a subject which must receive the earnest attention of the medical profession. It is impossible in an address of this kind to touch however lightly on the different theories as to the cause of cancer. The subject, however, is of such importance that I hope you will allow me to quote from the Official Year-book the principal organs which are affected in males and females in the cases of death from cancer. In males in 1902 the stomach was affected in a much greater proportion than any other organ. Next to the stomach came the mouth, lip, and tongue, &c.; then the intestinal canal; and then the liver. The other organs of the body were affected to a very much less extent. In females the stomach was often affected, but to a less extent than in males. In equal proportion to the stomach come the organs of reproduction, then the mammary gland, then the intestinal canal and liver, then the mouth, tongue, throat, &c., the other organs very slightly affected. It would also appear that the time of life at which deaths from cancer begin to be numerous is 35 for males, and 30 for females. The maximum of deaths is reached at the period of 60 to 65 for males, and 55 to 60 for females.

I would like to state here that if I were asked by a healthy man how he should direct his life in order that he might live to an old age I would advise him to ascertain, if possible, to what disease he was most liable by heredity, and by care and study delay as long as possible, or altogether prevent, its advent. I would also advise him to be moderate in all things—in his eating and drinking and smoking, in his exercises and amusements, in his studies and occupation. There is no doubt that abuses and excesses cause deterioration and loss of vitality and susceptibility to disease, and that injury and constant incitations in a debilitated person can convert a normal cell into a malignant one, a healthy tissue into a diseased one, and a normal structure into a cancerous one.

To arrive at the true nature and origin of this disease, and eventually its prevention, it is necessary to have constant and numerous examinations made after death by skilled pathologists. The present treatment of the disease is very unsatisfactory. It almost invariably consists of excision where excision is permissible. The treatment by the x rays and the violet rays seem to relieve pain, and in many instances to cause retrogression of the disease, but, unfortunately, the disease is apt to recur. The serum treatment is of too recent application to give any decided results. The definite results produced by radium and helium are at present unknown.