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110
1911
Little more has been added to our knowledge of the disease during the
last few years, but it is proved beyond doubt that heredity is a predisposing
cause, and that chronic irritation of a particular organ may lead to cancer.
In this connection, Dr. E. F. Bashford, the general superintendent and director
of the Cancer Research Fund writes in his report for 1910-11, as follows:—
" For the first time it is fully demonstrated that it is wrong to make
" statements of a disquieting nature about the increase of cancer in general.
" In conjunction with other investigations means are afforded of determining
" for parts of the body where the disease appears to be increasing, whether the
" increase is real or only apparent, and of ascertaining the causal factors
" peculiar to such parts. While it is evident that several of the differences
" brought out by the figures can be explained by more accurate diagnosis, and
" by transference of the seat of the disease from the secondary to the primary
" situations—e.g., by the relation revealed between cancer of the liver and gall"
bladder and the alimentary tract, this may not account fully for other features.
" In particular, the increase recorded for the mamma in women, and the tongue
" in men requires fui ther study and elucidation. Secondly, the analysis shows
" that the incidence is very unequally distributed among the several situations,
" and, indeed, that the whole curve of incidence may be different for different
" organs. A progressive increase up to the highest age-periods is characteristic
" of the face, lip, mouth, bladder, urethra and breast only. The other organs
" show a distinct diminution in the highest age periods, but it is not yet
" possible to determine whether this curve indicates a liability rising to a
" maximum followed by a diminution, or is merely the result of deaths being
" still ascribed to other causes in the case of cancer of internal organs in aged
" people. The study of the occurrence of cancer in mankind, and in domesticated
" animals in widely separated parts of the globe has shown that the practice of
" peculiar customs now (involving the subjection of particular parts of the body
" to chronic irritation), provokes the disease in situations and organs from which
" it is absent when these customs do not obtain. It is reasonable to suppose
" that the frequency of cancer would be diminished if such practices as the use
" of the kangri in Kashmir, the chewing of Betel-nut, and the eating of very hot
"rice in China, were discontinued.
" As to the influence of heredity, the breeding experiments which have
" been in progress for many years, have been alluded to in several earlier
" reports. They have now yielded upwards of 2,000 mice of known ancestry
" and age. Five hundred and sixty-two females were available for a study of
" the influence of heredity on the development of cancer of the mamma, when