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digestive tract in one previously in good health, any bleeding from
the back passage, or blood in the urine, or recurrent bleeding from
the nose or throat. Any formerly innocent growth which begins
to rapidly enlarge and become harder ; any wart, mole, old scar
which changes in appearance or slight ulceration on the face, or a
persistent crack or scaly patch on the lips which do not heal. Loss
of weight and Ana:mia.
Cancer is generally painless for many months. Pain is a late
symptom. To wait until pain occurs is to make cure almost hopeless.
It always begins as a local disease, and while still localised, any case
can be cured by surgical, X.rays, radium, or other treatment.
When the disease has spread and involved outlying parts, the
prospect of cure is remote.
If people will only pay attention to these danger signals and
early seek medical advice, thousands of premature deaths can be
prevented. Popular education as to these matters is a serious need,
and for this and other reasons it is a question whether Cancer Clinics
in large towns would not fulfil a very useful purpose.
It is calculated that there is an average loss of about one year
before submitting to skilled treatment, and that not one person in
ten comes sufficiently early for effective treatment.
It is recorded that 40 per cent, of all cases of Cancer of the
Rectum are quite incurable by the time appropriate treatment is
submitted to. Hundreds every year pay the penalty of death for
shrinking from surgical interference. The money that is made
every year by capitalising the hopes and fears of Cancer sufferers
is without doubt very great. These quacks, large in pretence and
promise, encourage the patient to expect relief till his money is