The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1887. DEATHS FROM CANCER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1445, 15 January 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1887. DEATHS FROM CANCER.

Cancer is, perhaps, the most painful and fatal of the many diseases mankind is heir to. It must, therefore, be with concern that the steady increase of victims to this malady is noted. The Registrar-General, m summarising the vital statistics for the colony for the year 1885, states that during that year the deaths from cancer amounted to 179, equal to 3 13 per 10,000 persons living. He adds that although this rate is slightly lower than that for 1884, when it was 3.46, still the fact does not disturb the remarks made m a previous report by him as to the general increase m the morttlity from cancer, for the rate m 1885 is higher than that m the years preceding 1884, and annual fluctuations may at times be expected. The mortality from cancer m proportion to the^Ttabet of each sex living, is m New Zealand about one third less among males than among females. In England, the corresponding mortality among males is a little more than half that among females, but both here and at Home the mortality among males is growing at a greater ratio than among females. In England, the deaths from cancer were, m the year 1884, at the rate of 5.60 per 10,000 persons living. Turning to the Australian colonies, it appears that the mortality from cancer is higher m Victoria than m New Zealand, but m New South Wales it is (apparently) lowe*. The figures are — Victoria, 4. 7 1; New South Wales, 2.60. The RegistrarGeneral states, however, that the lower rate recorded m New South Wales may, probably, be largely due to imperfection m the registration of the real cause of death, m consequence of the reception of certificates from unqualified persons. The rapid growth during recent years of such a fell disease must be viewed with apprehension, especially as it is one of which science can tell us but little. Of its origin, nothing — or next to nothing— is known, though the belief prevails m some quarters that it takes its rise m a nervous shock. It is a disease tint is commonly regarded as hereditary, but recent research seems to controvert that opinion. We notice that one of the medical staff of the West London Hospital, who has given much attention to the study of cancer and to the investigation of the causes of its increase m civilized countries, combats the theory of its being an inherited disease. The fact is admitted that cancer appears not seldom consecutively m certain families, but this, of itself, is not considered sufficient to constituted an hereditary quality when all the other characteristics of disease of such origin are absent. It fails to fulfil Quatrefage's definition of the hereditary quality, of becoming an agent of variation, and transmitting and accumulating the modifying actions of the conditions of life. The victims of cancer are almost invariably past middle age— 'between 40 and 60. The disease may also be regarded as climatic or racial, prevailing most m the Knglish climate and among people of English birth. There should be an interesting fiield of investigation open to Science m the direction of ascertaining the cause of and a remedy for this dreadful malady. If. there be any thing m the assertian we have before alluded to that the disease is due to nervous causes, it will probably be found that the conditions of life -in this age of bustle and hurry,in the rapidlyacclerated spread ot cancer, have yet 'another charge to answer of increasing man's bodily afflictions.

We dip the following important testimonial from the! llawarra, Mercury, N.S.W., on the 30th Maroh. It needs no comment :— " Mr John Loveday, of the Bulli Mountain, writes to us after Buffering for four years with aoute gravel, he haa experienced almost oomplete relief by using Sander and Sons' Euoalypti Extract. He Bays seeing the said Extraot advertised m the Illa/ivarra Mercury, his intense suffering induoed him to obtain a bottle of the medioine from Mr Hosking, chemist, of this town, and that the use of it gave him great relief at onqe. Ho states that between rhe 10th Maroh instant, when he obtained the first bottle of the extraot, and on the 19th the use of that medioine oontinued to afford him relief, to whioh he had been a stranger forlfour years. Mr Loveday writes also that he lias found the Euoalypti Extract a cure fo rheumatism as well as grovel. He requests j us to publish this information through the Mercury. We have muoh pleasure m complying with Mr Lovea-j 'a request, whose word cannot be be doubted, and who can have no object m view other than a pure desire to-be* stfit coffering bomwity,"— (4cvi).}