FACTS AND FANCIES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3658, 28 June 1927, Page 3

FACTS AND FANCIES.

CANCER IN NEW ZEALAND. “DISCOVERY WITHIN GRASP.” NATIONAL EFFORT NEEDED. CHRISTCHURCH, June 24. J*'aols and theories about the cancer scourge were discussed by Dr. R. R. D Milligan, Gio-ebemiht at the Christchurch Hospital, before the Canterbury Scientific Society. Dr. Milligan warned his audience against the \vhole-hearted acceptance of statistics. Figures show eel that cancer was on the increase in our own country but this did not prove increased susceptibility to cancel. I lie figures in the Year Book showed that, since 1923, tuberculosis had gone down while cancer had increased. Ihe cancer rate was virtually the same throughout all European countries. The most rapid increase was m Central and Southern Europe, but no accmate cancer census had been taken in any AND TREATMENT Young people could die of cancel as well as old, though the death rate was higher in the older age groups. A nelson with the disease goneraUy bad a yellow skin and looked ill. Alcohol oi tobacco did not affect it, neither was it found more m one social layer than 111 “Green-leafing theories as put forward are not competent to explain the cause and give a cure for the disease, said Dr Milligan. Neither had the brain nor nervous activity been proved to have anything to do with it. Dancer tissues had no nervous supplies. It might quite well be possible to stay or prevent the disease by the regu ation of the alimentary canal. A-raya and radium had been effectively used to treat surface tumours LITTLE SPEN P ON RESEARCH. Though there were 50,000 deaths annually from cancer in England, an amount of only one penny per head was spent in research on the disease. In New Zealand the per capita expenditure was only about one-third of a pennv. The discovery of the cause of and disease was just within grasp, and if they made a national efforts, as they did in the war, they would soon discover it.