The chief reason why cancer has worked its deadly havoc with alarming increase all these years is because the medical profession and the public have not organized themselves into a united army and with the weapons already at hand taken a determined stand against further onslaught from this enemy. The few scattered indefatigable workers in the search for a remedy from this scourge while not successful in providing us with a weapon which with one stroke we shall destroy it, yet they have given us sufficient power to stay its further progress. What is now of prime importance is that the entire medical profession shall enlist its efforts to the end that cancer shall go the way of all the other vanquished plagues. To accomplish this many lines of endeavor are necessary. First, there should be more endowed laboratories and hospitals with an equipment sufficient to study the etiology of the disease as never before studied. The institutions already provided for that purpose are too few; there should be a greater army of workers and they should be more widely distributed. Second, there is urgent need of a widespread campaign of education in the ranks of the profession on the one subject of the early recognition of cancer. There are yet in the land hundreds of the old time doctors who refuse to say "Cancer" in a given case until the odor from the sloughing mass would bring the blush of shame to a fertilizer factory, or until the "cachexia" has so stamped the countenance of the victim that an Egyptian mummy would in comparison be regarded as a June debutante. When that part of the profession, small as it is, can be made to understand that cancer like the "rattler” not only gives a timely warning of its bite, but even has its pre-cancerous stage, which a little diligent attention to symptoms will enable him to readily recognize, then we have eliminated one source of danger. It is rare that cancer even appears in any organ without a fairly definite prodromal history. If it be cancer of the stomach there is usually the long period of "indigestion," pain, loss of weight, periodic improvement; but an ever steady downward slump. This is the stage in which the "cancer" should be cured long before it becomes cancer. If medicine, diet, rest, and the most painstaking treatment fail, then surgery should be sought. Certain it is the patient should not be allowed to "drift." If it is cancer of the liver there is generally the prodrome of gall bladder irritation, biliary colic, intestinal indigestion, faulty metabolism, pain, pain, very steady right upper quadrant pain. Pathologists agree that rarely does the gall bladder become cancerous without without first becoming inflamed, either from the presence of calculi, or infected bile. The moral is: cure the cholecystitis and there will be no gall bladder cancer. If it is cancer of the rectum, there is invariably the old story of hemorrhoids, blood, painful defecation, pain and soreness months or years before cancer really gives its dreadful "rattle." Be it cancer of the cervix or uterus there are those ever present heralds which months before sound the note of warning and which are so well known to every gynecologist; the watery flow, an occasional show of blood from the vagina, a little discomfort in the pelvis, all of which generally appear after the menopause and are all too frequently regarded lightly by the indifferent medical attendant. Here again the old time doctor with his cold storage information of thirty years ago, fails to see anything ominous in such symptoms. He generally hears the cancer "rattle" a day or two before the patient hears Gabriel's horn. With this campaign of education for the physician should go the accepted fact that up to the present the chance of a cancer cure after cancer has actually appeared, lies only in an early radical removal of the growth. The medical man, the internist, has the best chance to cure before it becomes cancer, and has also the greater responsibility resting upon him. We may know something better soon, but until we do, it becomes our duty to give the victim of cancer the best known chance of a cure. Lastly comes the urgent necessity for a widespread knowledge of this disease amongst the public. It was feared that when the profession advocated educating the public concerning the early symptoms of tuberculosis that such a knowledge would tend to frighten people into having the disease. Such a fear has not materialized but rather the contrary, a knowledge of the disease on the part of the laity is a mighty factor in stamping out the curse. The lament of nearly every doctor who is consulted by a victim of cancer is: "Why did you not come earlier? Your chances of cure would have been reasonably certain." And now generally comes the one answer: "How should I know I was getting a cancer?" True, how should he know, who is there to tell him? In this, we the profession, are our brothers' keepers and we can only tell him by a widespread knowledge concerning this disease, such knowledge to be imparted through the press, by lectures, by literature, and by word of mouth. The battle against cancer is now fully on, the outcome is not uncertain if earnestness be the watch-word. NEUILLY HOSPITAL The Editor of the New England Medical Gazette. Dear Dr. de Witt Wilcox: I have to report continuous activity on the part of the Neuilly Hospital. One hundred and thirty-five patients have been received since its opening, and only one death has occurred up to date. While the majority of cases hitherto have not been received in the acute stage, a fair proportion have required un-remitting attention from the Medical Staff, with this fortunate result. Many of the patients have tubercle as a main or complicating factor, doubtless wakened by the conditions of life in the trenches. But none of them are allowed to stay in Hospital a day longer than is requisite to restore their fighting powers. The wastage of men is too great to allow any who can hold a rifle to be spared from the fighting lines. The cases are all taken and the clinical course and medical treatment recorded with the greatest care. The case books used are those specially drawn up by the International Homœopathic Council. Thus one scheme of detail is adhered to, so that analysis may be readily made when after the conclusion of the War the results are published. This indeed is one of the main objects of the conduct of the Hospital - the preparation of a verifiable body of statistics as irrefragable proof of the values of Homœopathy to the State no less in time of War than in civil life. Hitherto Homœopathy had no such valuable literature at its disposal. Steps are being taken to bring the Hospital, by way of auxiliary depot, and by utilizing the valuable influence of our French colleagues in and near Paris to ensure as large a proportion of acute cases for the Hospital service as is possible. Hitherto we have had no reason to complain of the good will of the military authorities. We have secured our share and more than our share of the sick soldiers entering Paris. At this particular juncture, the Government is turning to account the Provincial French Hospitals for the reception of sick and wounded, so as to clear for the enormous rush that is anticipated in the immediate future, when, according to Earl Kitchener, the war will begin. And Paris stands within easy distance of the focus of the great struggle. In Great Britain, the interest in the Neuilly Hospital is unabated. The latest active movement is in Liverpool, where the Homœopathic_Hospital authorities at the initiative of Doctor Hawkes and Doctor Cash Reed, are appealing to all the supporters of Homœopathy in the North to rally and finance a "Liverpool Ward." The other Homœopathic Hospital centres have done well. Bristol, through Doctor Hervey Bodman, has subscribed nearly £600. From Southport, through Doctor Cronin-Lowe, and where a Homœopathic Hospital does excellent work, nearly £400 has been contributed. At Tunbridge Wells, where an important extension of the Homœopathic Hospital there is being carried out, £100 has been collected. At Bromley, at the Annual Meeting of the supporters of the Cottage Hospital there, nearly £200 has been subscribed. In all, in Great Britain, some £4,500 has been obtained up to date in promises and payments. But we want more much more to do Homœopathy justice, and to ensure that it takes a fitting part in the healing of the nations. From the State Society of Massachusetts, £100 has been remitted. Dr. Sutherland has personally contributed £20. Dr. Horace Packard, ever enthusiastic in the progress of Homœopathy, has also with the warmest encouragement subscribed £20. And Dr. James W. Ward, hero of many contests in which Homœopathy has conquered, has remitted £10 as his personal contribution, with his cordial good wishes. Dr. A. R. Griffith of Montreal, has obtained as a subscription from the Montreal Homœopathic Association £10, which was transmitted by him in a letter breathing ardent enthusiasm for the cause. It is money that makes the wheels go round. Now is the day and now is the hour. With my kindest regards to my American colleagues, Ever yours faithfully, GEORGE BURFORD. SOCIETIES Alumni Association of Boston University School of Medicine The Annual Banquet of the Alumni Association of Boston University School of Medicine will take place at Young's Hotel, Tuesday evening, June 1st, 1915, at 7 P.M. The annual business meeting will be held at 6.30 P.M. The speakers for the evening are to be Pres. Murlin and prominent members of the Alumni Association. The Rev. Gabriel R. Maguire, F. R. G. S., will give his famous lecture entitled "With an Irishman through the Jungles of Africa." The Bostonia Orchestra will furnish music. Harold L. Babcock, Sec'y. Frederick L. Emerson, Pres. Sagamore Beach The above circular giving part of the programme was sent out to the Alumni of Boston University School of Medicine. In addition, Pres. F. L. Emerson gave a short address, Pres. Hopkins of the graduating class (which was entertained by the Alumni Association) spoke for his fellows, Dean Sutherland outlined various changes and improvements in the curriculum, Dr. Briggs reported on the work of the Finance Committee stating that the year's efforts were toward getting new students instead of money. Pres. Murlin was present for a short while, but was called away before he was called upon to speak. Dr. Piper presented the Alumni Association with $100 in behalf of the class of 1890 toward a permanent endowment fund. The lecture by Mr. Maguire was, I think, very well received. The attendance was the largest for several years. The new officers are: 1st Vice-President, A. W. Horr President, H. G. Batchelder Secretary, H. L. Babcock 2nd Vice-President, E. R. Johnson Treasurer, Howard Moore Auditor, Conrad Smith Advisory Committee (5 years) W. H. Flanders Directors: W.T. Lee, F. L. Emerson, J. A. Rockwell, A. G. Howard, Marion Coon. The Convocation ballot: Vice-President, Conrad Smith. Visiting Committee, S. H. Calderwood. Homoeopathic Medical Society of the County of Kings The 484th regular meeting of the Homoeopathic Medical Society of the County of Kings was held at the Medical Library Building, Brooklyn, on April 27, Dr. Robert F. Walmsley, president, in the chair. The Homoeopathic Medical Society of the County of New York were the guests of the evening and read four very interesting papers, the session ending with a collation. Dr. Edward P. Swift, President of the New York Society was invited to preside and introduced the chairmen of the bureaux. Dr. Bert B. Clark, chairman of the Bureau of Clinical Medicine, presented three papers, one paper, by Dr. George F. Laidlaw, on Some Fallacies of Nephritis,' was not read owing to the illness of Dr. Laidlaw. Dr. William H. Van den Burg, read an interesting paper on "Some Nutritional Problems," an exposition of recent discoveries in nutritional elements of food, and a plea for less refined and more nourishing wheat and other cereals. This paper was dis cussed by Dr. Lloyd, Dr. Harrington, Dr. Dieffenbach, Dr. Upham, Dr. Hale, and Dr. W. H. Pierson. Dr. E. H. Rudderow, of New York, read a paper entitled Cardio-Vascular Problems," a study of the effects of medicinal treatment to improve the heart action in cases of indigestion and other reflex conditions. This paper was discussed by Dr. Upham, Dr. A. L. Cardozo, who spoke of changes in the position of the heart disclosed by the fluoroscope, Dr. W. L. Love, Dr. Bert B. Clark. Under the Bureau of Surgery 66 |