CANCER. 177 



or less as to mode of onset, rapidity of growth, period 

 of life at which -they appear, and tissue or organ 

 forming their favourite seat of attack ; but all have 

 one character in common, and that is, once established 

 they never relinquish their victim. 



Considering that this terrible disease has been 

 increasing of late at an alarming rate, it is of the 

 utmost importance that people should have some idea 

 of the conditions which appear to give rise to it, more 

 especially if by the dissemination of such knowledge 

 it be deemed possible to limit, in however small a 

 degree, its ravages in society. 



It is several years now since it was first whispered 

 that cancer was on the increase. This uncomfortable 

 suspicion gradually spread, and soon infected the 

 general public and the medical profession alike. Proof 

 was added to proof, and what was but a suspicion 

 soon became an established fact. It became evident 

 to all that this cruel scourge of mankind was increas- 

 ing among the inhabitants of this and other civilised 

 countries. The number of deaths attributed to this 

 disease in the Registrar-General's returns grew steadily 

 grew out of all proportion to the increase of popula- 

 tion; but being a disagreeable subject, it was, like 

 other disagreeable matters, allowed to lie in the back- 

 ground for a time. This, however, as we might expect, 

 had no effect upon the figures of the Registrar-General, 

 and, as these went on increasing annually, it at length 

 became necessary to attack the distasteful subject. 



As is usual in all cases where the desire to prove 



