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73
has been alleged to be the cause of cancer, as also alcoholic
liquors, tea, excessive food and meat; and constipation has
been suggested as a cause of cancer of the bowels. I have
personally investigated the habits of persons suffering and
dying from cancer during the past twelve months, with a view
to seeing what amount of truth is contained in these allegations.
The inquiries sought to elicit habits of five to ten
years' duration before death, so as to ensure that they had
not been caused or modified by the illness which was the
cause of death. The following are the results, so far as they
affect the deaths occurring last year:—
79 cases were inquired into, viz.: 46 men and 33 women;
8 of these were under 50 years of age, 26 between 50
and 60, 26 between 60 and 70, and 19 over 70.
As regards alcohol and smoke, it was possible in most
cases to learn to some extent the amount consumed
by the patient, and an arbitrary standard was taken
as the limit of moderation consistent with health, viz.:
the daily consumption of 1½ pints of beer or its equivalent,
an ounce of spirits being considered equivalent
to ½ pint of beer. The standard for smoke was taken
as 2oz. of tobacco per week. Persons consuming more
than these quantities have been classed as excessive
drinkers or smokers.
With regard to tea, food and meat, it was only possible
to accept the opinion of the person giving the information
as to whether the patient used these articles
in excess or otherwise.
As regards the action of the bowels, the cases were divided
into those who had a daily action and those whose
bowels did not act as often as once in a day.