SMALLPOX AND CANCER

Evening Star, Issue 14307, 4 March 1910, Page 1

SMALLPOX AND CANCER

Not the least important of the numerous matters of interest dealt with by Dr Purdy, of Lower Hutt, in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the- British Medical Association (Now Zealand branch) last week was the practically iinvaocinated condition of the population of this country. Many times during the last few years we ourselves have called attention to this scandal, and Dr Mason, the late Chief Health Officer, was continually emphasising the desirability of taking steps to bring about a. mere satis factory state of affairs; but nothing, or next to nothing, ha 6 been done. The Hon. George FowJd6, Minister in charge of tho Public Hoalth Department, is said to be, if not decidedly heretical on the subject of vaccination, at least indifferent to the views of tho medical profession respecting the existence of danger ; and though prosecutions have been spasmodically instituted, tho authorities have always returned to an apathetic condition at the bidding of the protesting minority of peculiar people. " Vaccination is rapidly becoming obsolete in this Dominion," says Dr Purdy; and this not because " conscientious objectors " form any considerable proportion of the population—for there is no doubt that an actual "scare" would (as on former occasions) bring children and adults in their thousands to ho vaccinated —but because tho'lack of visible danger and the culpable remissness of tho authorities tend to create general carelessness and neglect. At the time of tho Jasfc scare the vaccination officers and medical practitioners could not overtake tho work suddenly

caused by the popular fright; and, indeed, we should bo sorry to think so ill of the intelligence of the community as to suppose that "conscientious" objection was other than an occasional eccentricity. The case for vaccination does not consist in a mere preponderance of evideneo or probabilities; it is—;is was said of tho case against the Tichborno Claimant —a matter of absolute, unassailable demonstration. To quote Dr Purdy : If then* is one subject on- which tho medical profession is united it is the absolute safeguard of vaccination and the dangers unvaccinated children run. I need not dilate on the reasons for this concensus of opinion—it is n settled fact and should bo known to the public at large.

We should have imagined that the fact was sufficiently known to tho public at largo long ago. Rut many people (including some doctors), while ridiculing tho soI called arguments of. tho anti-vaccination ! faddists, will tell us that the seriousness of the. position as regards Now Zealand is minimised by the extreme remoteness of the peril. We have no wish to exaggerate the danger that exists ; it is enough for us that there is a danger, whatever may be its degree. No doubt, smallpox is what is termed a "dirt" disease, and happily the military conditions in this country are calculated to reduce the likelihood of it originating in our midest or of subsequent, development. Still, tho infection might be imported ; in which case there would (bo no absolute safeguard against an epidemic of considerable proportions. If the material imagination of the people, so to speak, were more fully educated—in other words, if all classes could lie brought to realise, what a horrible malady smallpox it, and what a malign scourge it was in our grout-grand fathers' time—their tho existence of even tho smallest danger would be regarded as sufficient ground for universal vaccination. To quote from a letter which appeared in our columns on February 11, signed by " One Who Has Suffered " :

Anyone travelling fifty years ago in Scotland, Ireland, England, Russia, Germany, or any other part of the world would see the same awful effects of that fearful disease, happily now very little known in any part of the world, smallpox. ... In those days

a very great percentage, in some countries more than others, showed the ravages of the terrible disease smallpox. Beautiful faces of fine-figured women were horribly scarred. Eyelids, the nose, and ears suffered fearful disfiguration. The effects of smallpox loft them blear-eyed and hideous objects to look upon. It is hardly believed by the younger generation what these disfigurations meant.

We are not sure that our correspondent was guilty of any exaggeration in asserting that no human benefactor had done so much for the race as Jcnner. And we honor his memory (to say nothing of thwarting Providence) by allowing his inestimable benefit, io become obsolete ! It is to be hoped that Dr Purdy's pronouncement on behalf of the medical profession may have some effect in reducing a reform of custom; but we must just add that the New Zealand doctors, in their private practice, might do a gocd deal more to encourage observance of the duty of vaccination. A doctor, when paying the final visit at a maternity cuao. should make a point of indicating and emphasising the parental responsibility in this important matter.

In dealing with the dread subject of cancer, Dr Purdy offered some practical counsel, which we arc- glad to help in promulgating. It is ''a moot point as to " whether cancer is on the increase or "not," but unhappily it is undeniable that no cure has been found, apart from the operation of the surgeon's knife. Experts in various countries (subsidised in many cases by public, and private munificence) are busily engaged in research work, and the possibility of discovering a means of medical relief is one of the hopes or dreams of the age; but no assured result has so far been forthcoming. And even the surgeon is hampered, in the greater number of instances, by the fact that his services arc sought too late. The practical counsel to which we alluded just now may be rsathei'd from the following passage, though the actual words are not Dr Purdy's, but ate taken by him from the inaugural address o fDr .Marnoclc, the new Professor of Surgery at Aberdeen University :• Owing to the insidious nature rf tho disease and the widespread popnlitr ignorance its to its character, a fatal delay was too often tolerated. CuiiLcr in its early stages may simulate a benign growth .-o closely that even the most experienced are occasionally deceived. . . . The main responsibility for delay gonciallv rests with the patients themselves, this in part duo to the (iictm.s a.nc that cancer in its curly s'nges is ■-.">- often. if not always, devoid of pain. v nry a woman dcludai herself, into t!i. 'Href

t.hat a growth on her breast was of little consequence, simply because it was not painful. It was really a pity that the early phases of cancer were so devoid of pain. Were it otherwise, mediran men would be consulted earlier. Much was done nowadays in instructing the general public in matters of public health, but surely something might also be done to dispel the ignorance of a disease which year after year claimed manv victims. *. . . The sooner the

public mind was disabused of the idea, that cancer was at all stages a painful malady, and women could be induced to seek advice the moment their attention was drawn to a tumor or other abnormality, the more successful would be the efforts of the surgeon. It could not bo too strongly insisted upon that cancer in its onset was a local disease and was curable by complete excision.

Our reproduction of this lengthy passage will be more than justified if it should lead a. single sufferer to seek surgical relief in. t.imr, instead of (as is so often the case) too late.