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54
Note.—A better classification might be made if my medical
brethren would be more definite in the terms of their death certificates, and
avoid the use of "Cancer" or "Malignant." If the disease were recurrent,
the original seat of the disease should also be given first. If
there had been an operation, the date of it would be of great interest.
Prevention of Cancer.
In a letter addressed to the British Medical Journal, of August,
1912, the Medical Officer of Health of Harrow, published the following
remarks, which I think well worthy of extended publication:—
Medical observers are agreed that the chief pre-disposing
causes of this disease are chronic irritation and injury. Therefore, if
the following rules were observed there should follow considerable
diminution in the Mortality from cancer, which, in the Harrow district,
has caused more deaths than tuberculosis during the Last five years.
Rules.
1. When warts, mioles (especially dark coloured), and other skin
growths are exposed to constant irritation, they should be immediately
removed.
2. Workers who use tar or paraffin are especially liable to hard,
warty growths on the hands, forearms, and other exposed parts of
skin. Treatment should be sought early for such growths, as they may
readily go on to cancer. Sweeps should take daily baths to remove the
soot. Workers with x-rays should be effectually protected.
3. Avoid excessive smoking, as it predisposes to cancer of the lips,
tongue, cheeks, etc. Inhaling cigarette smoke tends to cause cancer of
the vocal cords.
4. Avoid irritation of the tongue and cheek by broken, jagged
teeth, and of the lips by certain kinds of inferior clay pipes.
5. Avoid excessively hot food and drink, which induce cancer of
the throat. Fluids and solids should not exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Many people take food land drink at 120 degrees to 150 degrees
Fahrenheit.
5a. Avoid taking large quantities of iced drinks and ices, as
digestion ceases when the temperature of the stomach is reduced
below normal, which is 98 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. Masticate all food thoroughly, as food imperfectly chewed causes
chronic irritation of the alimentary canal, involving the gullet, the
entrance and outlet of the stomach, as well as that organ itself, and
various parts of the large and small bowels, especially the termination
of the former. Cancer of the food tract spreads to the liver, gall
bladder, pancreas, etc.