OUR KUMARA LETTER.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 14 August 1901, Page 2

OUR KUMARA LETTER.

(ode owe cobbkspondbnt.) j

Among the many services rendered by Dr. Scott to the Literary and Debating s Society, his lecture on “Canper .” must ’ take a foremost place. There was. one unsatisfactory feature about it, and, that., was the attendance. Seeing, that this .' subject possesses an individual and world-wide interest, a much larger 1 audience was expected. _ However, the 1 paucity is easily explainable on the. | grounds that it was hot generally known the lecture was to take place on. Tuesday night. This was owing to an unfortunate misunderstanding between the two Club's whereby both fixed on the same night for a lecture, the one being publicly an* nounced in the “ Stab ” and -the other Only in the morning of s, Tuesday was it arranged to postpone Mr. Bennie's lecture and proceed with .Dr. r Scott’s. For my share in the transaction I must cry pecoavi and apologise to numbers whom I know were anxious .to. hear the Dr. lecture on the subject “Cancer." However, those who did ‘ attend were fully recompensed by hear*’ ing one of the most instraeturo lectures yet delivered in the Town' Hall. The lecturer prefaced his remarks proped by stating mat be had come forward, to help the Society as he believed it was a worthy one and it was the duty of every citizen to render it all the assistance in, their power. After a brief explanation ofthe nature of the disease, its history was, touched on, : The Doctor , quoted figures to show that it was. rapidly on the increase.' This was ox-' plainable partly by the increased facilities for detecting it, and the fact as a result that many cases that were set down formerly as inflamation, under a modem diognosis with the assistance of the microscope proved to be true career, and' were recorded as such.. The cause of cancer was next treated of, and the several theories advanced from time to time by scientific men. to account for its origin', were lucidly explained, the lecturer givingthe reasons why they had been rejected* Basing his conclusions on facts and comparisons of our modem civilisation with that of our forefathers, the Doctor showed that the stress of modern life with its competition, etc., was favorable to the propogation of the disease much more so than obtained formerly. Malignant and benign cancer skin and internal cancer, their origin and development, and the ; means to avoid them were treated of.. Among the means to be adopted to avoid this dread disease, the Dr emphasised cleanliness and temperance in eating and drinking. Most people, especially those of sedentary habits, eat and drink by far too much, clogging the body with foodstuffs, and thereby bringing about a condition of things favourable to the development of cancer. As for the cure, excision in. the earlier stages was the only affective ' means known, out be did not despair of ultimate success of science to discover a remedy. Scientists were already at work in the direction of ! an antirtoxia and probably would be successful. It may be interesting to hear that according to De Scott, cancer is increasing mors rapidly, in men than in women. ) £ IK: ■ . ■

On the motion of Bev J. B. Clark, a hearty vote of thatiks was accorded to Dr Scott for his lecture.

Prior to the lecture the Secretary was instructed to write, inviting the members of Holy Trinity Society to a friendly return debate at Eumara at an early date. An invitation to Hokitika Society was also ordered te be sent, subject and debate to be fixed later on.