TAKE LIFE EASY.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 40, 17 December 1920, Page 10

TAKE LIFE EASY.

STRAIN OF MODERN LIYING INCREASES CANCER DEATHS. Cancer is spreading at a startling rafct in the British Isles. The London Cancer Hospital i.s formnlating plans for a thor ough review of the existing cancer peri. and the all too irisurficient knowledg with which it is compelled to fight it. Its terrible rate of growth may be illustrated by a few figures. In 1864, there ■ were 8117 deaths from cancer in Entgland and Wales. By 1874 the numbei had increased to 11,011 ; and in 1884 tc 15,198; and in 1890 to 19,433. 'Ihe ratic per million of population was, in luo4 ( only 085 ; in 1874, 461 ; in 1884, 56o ; in 1890^ 676; m 1901, 842; and in 1917, the last year for which figures have been issued, the rate per million was 1210. With a slight and temporary decrease in 1865 every year has seen a steadily progressive augmentation in the death-rate. The same sad story comes from every part oi the civilised world for which statistics are available. Moreover, as every doctor knows, thp figures which the States issue rather un- | derstate the case than otherwise. A good j many internal cancerous growths in the old people pass unnoticed; their deaths are assigned to other causes. Also there is a desire to spare the feelings of royal and distinguished persons, a class which furnishes its •quota to the death rate, yet j shrinks from the unpleasant notoriety attaching to the phrase "cancer in the fam. ily." I could mention rather numerous royalt-ies, from the great Napoleon down to the Kaiser's fatber and mother who have succumbed to this curse in the last centur}-, along with one illustrious British premier. The causes of cancer are supposed to be unknown, but 110 thing could be more remots from t-he actual truth. Tlie immediate causes of cancerous growths have long been recognised and more or less precisely stated by every doctor of eminence who has written on the subject. But in order to discuss scientifically the causes of cancer, it is necessary to place each variety of the scourge under a separate heading, and not to lump them -all together as simply "cancer." Every case of cancer has its own distinct rise. Cancer is not one malady ; it is a host of maladies. There are ten primary kinds of cancer, and at least twenty secondary kinds. The rcasons for the continued increase of cancer tuni mainly on the fact that women are the principal sufferers from it, and the special causes which prevail in their case are acellerated by trouble, anxiety, worry, and general wear-

and-tear. Men are not exempt from can. cer, but suffer in a far minor dcgree. Increasing civilisation has for the last 70 years or more denoted enormously increased worry, and sorrow and augmented mental and physical friction of all kinds, ielt most heavily by the poor and toiling classes, but also in a lieavy degree by the ranks above. The upper rank s, being more sensitive and more apt to give way to brooding sorrow, often create unnecessary troubles for themselves and so increase their liability to cancer. This y early increase in cancer is no more than a measure of the annually augmented wear-and-tear which modern civilisation involves, and which nearly all of us, under mcdern conditicns, have to undergo. It- will not entirely ccase until the condifions of life become far easier than now — say in another 500 years, if all goes well. But even as matters stand now, much can be dorie to lessen and to prevent it. For instance, cancer among vent it. For instance, cancer among women may be prevented by greater equanimity and cheerfulness. Commonly it is easier to preach this doctrine than to practice it. But for all that the effoi't could' often be made with ccmplete success. Doctors here at the London Cancer Hospital have told me of cases in which a cancerous seizure has been brought on by a casual bother about servants. Further than this every thing that tends to sustain physical health and well -being mateiially aids in preventing the onset of cancer. People don't need to be flyiug always to the doctor. On the contrary, all they need study is the general laws of health which are largely individual, and which vawy in different cases. The forms of cancer which attack men are usually due, in the first instance, to some very palpable bceach of Nature's laws, such as chronic alcoholism, to say nothing of unsavory maladies which might easily have been prevented, and for which the patient is cialpabJy respomible.