The Awful Cancer Problem
By David Paulson, M. D.
CANCER has already become a terrible plague. In Illinois it causes the death of one out of every nine mature women. Consumption is the only disease that is responsible for more deaths than cancer. According to present indications the day is not far distant when cancer will be the greatest human scourge. In spite of various new “cures” and millions of dollars that have been spent in investigating it, some features of it still shroud themselves in absolute mystery. One fact, however, stands out as clearly and distinctly as a milepost, and that is, it especially preys upon the well-to-do classes, the high livers and the so-called good eaters, while those who either from force of circumstances or from principle live upon a simple, natural dietary and obey nature’s laws in other ways, are practically exempt from this terrible plague. Over in Canada is a large community of Russian Dukhobors, who are entirely free from cancer, although the people around them are suffering from this disease. I quote the following from Dr. Russell’s book, “Preventable Cancer:”— “The Russian Dukhobors have existed as a community about a century. They are plain livers, and do not eat flesh nor use stimulants. About seven thousand of them immigrated to Canada when expelled from Russia. Disease, according to Mr. Blow, was rarely known among them. They were particularly clean, frugal, and moral. They have keen minds, are kind to animals, and ready to help in any work. I have just heard from the manager that he has never known of any cancer among them. “The Dukhobors in Canada refrain from fish, flesh, and fowl as food, and live on fruit, vegetables, and nuts. Cows are kept for milk. No tea nor coffee is drunk. Wholesome bread, jam, honey, and vegetable butter from sunflower seeds, are eaten regularly. The houses are roomy, airy, and clean; the people wash frequently in baths, and are scrupulously clean, regular, and orderly.” In connection with this, I quote the following extract from Dr. Alexander Bryce, a prominent English writer:— “Dr. Kellogg has lived in a community [Battle Creek] of flesh abstainers for forty-five years, and for forty of those years he has made careful note regarding the incidents of cancer among them. In all that time he has known only two instances of cancer in flesh abstainers. In one of these two cases a sarcoma was removed about four years ago, and has not since recurred. Thus it appears, and the fact is most remarkable and important, that only one death from cancer has occurred during forty years in the abstaining community. “This record of Battle Creek proves beyond question that a great diminution of the probability of cancer is produced in two years in almost all or all persons who adopt the diet and free themselves from the common poisons of ordinary diet. A fortiori, the complete adoption from childhood of this fare, if cool, natural, and moderate, would at least make cancer a rare disease, and would save a world of suffering.” Twenty years ago Sir William Banks, of Liverpool, made the remarkable suggestion that there was a close relationship between flesh eating and cancer. And W. Roger Williams, one of the greatest cancer specialists in the world, has called attention to the fact that cancer has increased in England just in proportion as flesh eating has increased. He also traces a definite relationship between the two. Dr. Russell believes that cancer is6prompted not only by the free use of available flesh foods, but also by alcoholic drinks and such “drug drinks” as tea and coffee. It is an interesting fact that has been widely commented upon by reliable observers, that when natives in different parts of the world who have been living upon a nonflesh dietary adopt the dietetic habits of the Europeans, they quickly begin to suffer from cancer. In view of this, it would seem that Dr. Bell, the great English cancer specialist, is absolutely correct when he speaks of this disease as “being to a large extent the bitter fruit of our so-called civilization.” He states his final conclusions in the following emphatic language: “Cancer is nature’s protest against disobedience, and is the penalty she imposes upon those who, though perhaps more from the force of habit than knowingly or willingly, have ignored her teachings.” Dr. Bell advises that the diet be restricted to fruit, abundance of fresh vegetables, especially green garden truck, nuts, cereals; and he especially insists upon these three points,—thorough mastication of the food in order to obtain a complete mixture of the saliva with it, a daily complete evacuation of the bowels, and living in a pure atmosphere. It would seem as if the whole cancer curse is a striking commentary on the inspired words, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6), and that the best cancer preventive yet known is to eat and drink to the glory of God. See 1 Cor. 10:31. Nearly a generation ago these words were written: “From the light which God has given me the prevalence of cancers and tumors is largely due to gross living on deadly flesh.” Modern scientific observation is rapidly accumulating evidence that abundantly justifies the striking accuracy of that statement. The late Dr. Nicholas Senn, who was Chicago’s most eminent surgeon, after making a trip around the world for the purpose of studying cancer, declared on his return that he found cancer was either absent or practically absent among nonflesh-eating people. The day is not far distant when there will be a people who will not only appreciate that “the curse causeless shall not come” (Prov. 26:2), but will also be a living demonstration of the words of the psalmist, “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.” Ps. 91:7.