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76
Last year had, with the exception of 1911, the highest
recorded cancer death-rate; there was an increase in females,
but a decrease in males. There was an increase under
carcinoma of the throat, stomach, liver, genital organs, in
women, and of the mouth in men.
On the whole since 1903, the most notable increase has
been in canoer of the mouth and throat in men, and of the
digestive organs in women. The latter increase may be
due to improved diagnosis. The greater incidence of canoer
on the mouth and throat can hardly be accounted for in
this way.
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.
Causes of Cancer—Special Enquiry. Owing to the apparent
increase of this painful disease, much interest has
been aroused in the attempts to discover its cause. So fax
no great addition to our knowledge on the subject has been
made. It has been long known that the disease is frequently
a result of local irritation, as in the case of irritated sores
producing cancer of the skin, chimney sweeps' cancer, and
smokers' canoer of the lip and tongue. Apart from the irritation
of a pipe, smoking has been alleged to be the cause
of cancer, as also alcoholic liquors, tea, excessive food and
meat, and septic teeth, 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 two years, with a view of seeing what
amount of truth is contained in these allegations. The inquiries
sought to elicit habits of five to ten years' duration.