SMOKING AND CANCER.

Mt Benger Mail, 16 September 1931, Page 1

SMOKING AND CANCER.

“No clear evidence has been adduced that the mere fact of smoking tobacco is a cause of !ij» cancer, although the method of smoking, that is to say by causing repeated injuries to tissue at u particular spot, may produce a pre-cancerous or cancerous condition.” This note is in a Ministry of Health memorandum sent to local authorities on cancer of the lip, tongue and skin. “Injuries to the lip may be so slight,” says the report, “as to escape observation or recollection, such as adhesion of cigarette papers, or to a clay pipe stem by friction, or heat of a pipe stem, by shaving, by exposure to climatic conditions, it Is possible that these, if repeated, lead in time to the formation of

chronic ulcer, usually painless, the commonest of preeaneerous conditions. No evidence has been adduced to support the contention that the mere inhalation of tobacco smoke is of importance.”

A speaker engaged to lecture ,n 'a small town arrived in the afternoon. The place seemed poorly : billed, and the lecturer thought he would see if the people knew j anything of what was in store for | them. “Good afternoon,” he ; said to a grocer. “ Any enterI tainment here to-night to help a i stranger while away his evening!” The shopkeeper straightened up, wiped his hands on his apron, and said, “I epect there’s j guin’ to be a lacture. I’ve been cellin’ eggs ail day.”