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74
Last year had the highest recorded Cancer death-iate, the
increase being confined to males. There was some slight
increase under most of the organs tabulated, but chiefly from
carcinoma of the throat, pancreas, and undefined regions.
On the whole, since 1903, the most notable increase has
been in cancer of the digestive organs. Whether this increase
is real, or due to improved diagnosis, it is impossible
to say.
On the other hand there has been a decrease of Cancer in
the female genital organs and breasts. This decrease may
possibly be the result of more early detection of, and
operation on, the disease, owing to the advancement of
surgery. These latter diseases are more easily diagnosed
than those of the stomach and intestines, and the fact tl at
the former appear to have decreased, and the latter increased,
strengthens the opinion that the apparent increase of Cancer
is largely due to improved diagnosis.
It is seen from these two tables that Cancer affects the
mouth, tongue, pharynx, oesophagus, and larynx of men,
much more than similar organs of females, and to a small
extent men have more Cancer of the stomach than women.
Cancer of the rectum, however, is more frequent in women.
The increase of Cancer in recent years has been attributed
to the excessive use of various articles of diet, e.g., alcohol
tea, coffee, ancl meat, and to smoking. That alcohol is a
predisposing cause of Cancer, acting probably as an irritant
to the digestive organs, seems to be well established. The
local irritation of the mouth by the use of pipes is certainly
conducive to the disease.