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1929
24
probably account for some of the apparent increase. The principal
organs affected were—
Stomach 22 Pancreas 6
Bowels 18 Bladder 6
Breast 10 Prostate 5
Uterus and Ovary 8 Aesophagus 4
The increase has been most marked in the organs of the
digestive track and of course it has been naturally inferred that
this is due to some dietetic faults and changes. It must also be
remembered that the improved methods of diagnosis are more
-applicable to these internal organs.
It is probably true that there is some increase in the incidence
of Cancer apart from improved diagnosis and age incidence, in spite
of the enormous amount of research work which has been, and is still
being done.
Considerable attention has been given to the question of
radium treatment of Cancer. Radium is one of the rare metals
which occurs in nature in exceedingly small quantities, and has
the property of emitting rays. The rays emitted are of three kinds,
and the short penetrative Y rays have little or no therapeutic value
and produce harmful effects. The exact mechanism of the action
of radium on the body-tissues at present remains unrevealed, and
it still remains true that early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment
are the important factors in the successful treatment of
Cancer. The discovery of radium greatly enhances the prospects
of success by operation, but radium-therapy has not and may never
replace operative measures entirely. In certain regions radiumtherapy
is becoming a recognised method of treatment of early
Cancer ; in other regions it is being tried with a hopeful degree of
success. The Report of Sir George Newman summarises the position
as follows. By the use of radium alone when applied in the
appropriate quantity with suitable filtration and for the proper
period, the disappearance of the primary cancer can be effected in
a greater or less proportion of cases in certain regions of the body,
namely, the skin, cervix of the uterus and the mouth. For practically
all other regions sufficient experience has not yet been
accummulated to show that similar effects can be secured though
it is reasonable to assume that with advances in knowledge such
results may become practicable.
Uncertified Deaths. Last year there were two deaths which
had not been certified either by a medical practitioner or by a Coroner.
One of these deaths occurred in the North of England
where the patient was on a holiday. The death was certified as due
to servere Cerebral Hemorrhage. The other occurred in the Infirmary
and was due to Inanition. This is the first occasion for