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107
[1938
CANCER HOUSES—SO-CALLED.
While the exact cause of Cancer still remains the subject of research, it has
always been deemed expedient to sympathetically consider requests for disinfection
after cancer deaths. There are still ardent believers in "Cancer" houses who strive
to support their idea that certain premises are prone to recurrence of cancer cases,
and that the cases exceed what might be expected as ordinary chance.
Dr. W. E. Snell, Tuberculosis Officer for North Islington, was granted permission
to search our accumulated death records, and with the assistance of Mr. H. A.
Bathurst, B.A., shows that there is no evidence to support belief in cancer houses.
The results of this work were published and the main points are here recorded.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF CANCER.
With Special Reference to the Metropolitan Borough of
Islington, by W. E. Snell, M.A., M.D., M.R.C.P., D.P.H.,
and H. A. Bathurst, B.A.
Local variations in the incidence of cancer have always been and still remain a
matter of controversial opinion. The question is of obvious importance as having
some bearing on the infective theory of cancer. The subject, however, appears to
have received little scientific attention in recent years in this country with the exception
of a paper by P. Stocks (1935).
Previous Investigations.
Leeson (1908) investigated the cancer deaths, numbering 248, which had occurred
at Twickenham over a period of twenty-one years, and showed that all but four
were found in separate houses. L. Sambon (1926), as the result of investigations in
Italy, Holland, and other countries, vigorously supported the existence of " cancer
houses."
P. Stocks (1935) analysed 2,895 cancer deaths at Bristol and 694 deaths at
Worcester, and concluded that the distribution of cancer in these districts was a purely
random one, taking into account the tendency of persons of cancer age to be grouped
in certain houses or districts. More recently Leyton and Leyton (1937) have investigated
the regional distribution of cancer in the Oxford area, and conclude from the
grouping of cases that this does not follow the laws of chance, but they give no detailed
calculation in support of this opinion.
The Present Investigation.
This comprises the deaths from cancer occurring in the Metropolitan Borough of
Islington during the years 1932-6 inclusive. The total cancer deaths during the five
years numbered 2,464 cases in which it may fairly be assumed that the disease arose
or existed at the address given, the patients dying in their homes or in hospitals for
acute diseases in the vicinity.
Tables were constructed for the whole of Islington, street by street, comprising
about 1,000 streets, terraces, blocks of flats, and mews, and the exact address of each
case was noted. For reasons of space it is impossible to reproduce these tables. The
summarised results are as follows:—
1 cancer case in a house 2,322 houses.
2 cancer cases in a house 68 ,,
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