LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 95, 18 November 1916, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

After the reading at the last meeting of the Stratford Hospital Board of an official communication relating to the great number of deaths from cancer, a discussion arose as to the cause of the disease. There is great difference of opinion in scientific circles as to the in fact, it'has baffled profession. tTlie "subject, is one .of extreme difficulty but of such importance that in 1902 the English Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons promoted a scheme for cancer research. This undertaking is known as “the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.” Statistics indicate that cities show proportionately. than country districts: in £lie cotm : , . t(. ,ua:> ilOv, try there is a marked preponderance of cases in low-lying districts, near either stagnant or tdldrained, with trees abundant in the vicinity. According to on© theory, with which the name of Cohnheim is associated, malignant growths arisef from the development and proliferation of certain cells included within the body before birth. The other view is that cancer is due to parasitic infection. It has also been 5- rated that vegetarians are practica'ly immune from the disease.

The number of men who have returned from service with the New Zealand Forces is now gradually approaching 6000; from t'lc progress statement issued by the Discharged Soldiers’ Information Department, ms at . loth November, 1916, the total number of men shown on the register is 5950. this number includes men who have been discharged from Camp as medically unfit for service; in this .rcsyjcetV however,- the-number is bound; to- be- small; as the Department orily deal with those making application / for - assistance ns regards employment; whereas every man who returns as from October, .1915, has been placed on the register; therefore with a degree of- certainty it, can be stated that 6000 men have returned to New Zealand. ; Particulars' of the disposition ■of meij is as follows: (1) Cases disposed of, —(a) Men who have work to return to, have re-en-listed, returned -to military duty, etc., 2147; (b) Men placed in employment, 1182; (c) Men who hav** not required assistance of the Dcr partment and signed to that effect, 1135; dd) Left New Zealand, or address not known, 148; (e) Men who ‘ have not responded to repeated applications and men who have failed to commence work where positions have been found', 416; total, 5028. (2) Cases under action,—(a) Reports upon cases not yet returned by officers making enquiries, 128; (b) Awaitiilg further advice, including men who have stated they are not ready to commence work, 228; (c) At present on employment wanted register, 154; total, 510. (3) Cases not ready for action which includes men recently returned, 412; men con- ( valescing and not yet discharged by the Military Authorities. Of the 151 men on the Employment Wanted Register, four are in the Taranaki District, requiring work as follows :j 2 light work, 1 clerical, 1 motor, driver.