THE CANCER PROBLEM.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11377, 13 September 1902, Page 6

THE CANCER PROBLEM.

The latest pronouncement of science cancer problem is of a hopeful nataw. jpjjj| medical world, it is true, has failed i_s|jfe to discover the hidden jsource of the and past investigations, although pmuao:*: enough in theories, do not appear to „w4-S yielded any really satisfactory clue toj&sv solution of the problem. Professor JefttT Sinclair, in an address on the subject the British Medical Association last mo&jy *•; expressed the opinion that "we are rigirijto'"' " assuming that there is no hope for tlp/: " solution of the cancer problem in any \jf v " the theories of individual causes frith—:ir» ';, "advanced. He was far, however, fro_ * taking a pessimistic view on that accouni r The growing skill and certainty of surgical;, operations has already done much to lessto"the ravages of the scourge, and in this d'rec-, < tion the results achieved give substantial ,„' ground for encouragement. "The reiolti '1 "obtained by many of the be*fckuaw_jbs- :,j " rators," said Professor Sinclair, "ept&t : "to improve. They are "immediate results, and the n_absr!4f " 'cures' increases—that is, the "of immunity for at least five yasr*sjltfe ' "operation becomes greater. The p*f* ; "centage of cases operable when _wi vwaa '" " also increases, because the patients co*j» ' " earlier for treatment and improvepe-t----"in technique have extended the in„«V v "tions." These are statements verified' li** ■ the statistics of carefully-reported work dotie " in many countries, and each case that the r' records cover, we are assured, contains "its < " own lessons and its message of hop*!.!' ■' It is cheering to feel that a steady advancs '; is being made in the treatment of th_ ttt- ~ rible disease. Even though cancer is not* ■) yet preventable, it is something to be able £ to keep it well in check, and lessen the" < suffering and the misery which it cmWo.';{ . Meanwhile there is a great field for bcHsb- '"* tjfic enterprise in the search for the origin •" ; of cancer, which would be an imports-t step in the direction of finding a remedy. •„,

Professor Sinclair urges younger men of the profession to take up the work, and tee H they can trace the malady to its sovjr-je, r - and thanks to the philanthropy w_>j?a : brought the Cancer Research Fund 4m» - existence recently, the facilities for early* \, ing out the task are greater norr thin ever before. The trustees of the fund. " have dose on £40,000 in hand, and arrangements are now being made to' commence *&• - tive work under the scheme drawn up settle * months ago. That their efforts may i» ; time be crowned with success will be ti« _ earnest wish of all to whom the suffering* •' • *- - of their fellow-men appeal. , -