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121
Cancer Districts, Houses and Rooms.
I am convinced from my own experience that this part of Dr. Brand's
book, associated with a consideration of heredity, is so striking that
Public Health Authorities cannot afford to leave matters where they
are. True, in Deptford we have not been idle. We have received the
kind assistance of the Kentish Mercury and the South Eastern Herald
in our cancer propaganda work, and in many public health matters,
and we have printed and circularised bills (see below) warning the
public of the signs and symptoms of cancer.
Now this particular reference to cancer houses, districts, etc., will
interest all, as every family has talked about such and such a house
as being a cancer house, etc.
What are the facts? We speak of "cancer fields." The highest
death-rate from cancer occurs in low-lying districts, those liable to
seasonable floodings and characterised by alluvium and sub-soils of the
various clays. Cancer is least prevalent in elevated districts where
there is a good fall for drainage, freedom from floods and characterised
by porous sub-soil and the oldest paleolithic rocks, especially the limestones.
Cancer is most rampant where sewage is most difficult to be
got rid of, and where it is most likely to be deposited and remain after
floodings or high tides, on a non-porous soil. As a result there is a
prolific growth of micro-organisms with probable contamination of
shallow surface wells. Certain houses in such districts present cases
of cancer. Three women, unrelated, successively occupied a room near
London. Each had lived in other rooms in the same house. Within
a year of occupying this room, they developed cancer, and died. The
room was disinfected and the bedding burnt. No further case occurred
in the house.
Dr. Scott related in the British Medical Journal that J. K., aged
50, died of cancer of the liver. J. L., aged 54, succeeded him and died
two years after from cancer of the bladder. A. L., aged 60, was
then appointed and died in 18 months from cancer of the stomach.
These three men all inhabited the same room in turn and slept in the
same bed, which was a walled-in one. They were all strong and well
when they came to live in this room. They were not related and they
had no history of heredity. Many other cases could be quoted. The
following is from Dr. Behla:—
"The town of Luckau, in Bavaria, consists of a central main portion
with 3,000 inhabitants, flanked on the east and west respectively by