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DIET AND DISEASE

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 25, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 52.

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DIET AND DISEASE.

THE official report of the registrar-general of Ireland on the prevalence of cancer in that country is re-opening, in the medical world, the discussion of the cause and cure of that rapidly-increasing disease. Doctor Robert H. Perks, of England, contributes an exhaustive article to the November number of the Herald of the Golden Age on the prevalence of that disease in the different countries of the world, giving statistics of much interest to the public.
The statistics given in this article show an almost perfect immunity from cancer in those countries where little or no flesh is eaten, while in those countries where flesh is one of the principal articles of diet, cancer is increasing at a tremendous rate. Thus in countries where Mohammedan influence dominates, cancer is seldom seen; and this is also true of those countries where fruit grows in profusion. Itis of interest also to note that in certain counties of Ireland the number of cancer cases is greatly in excess of the number in other counties. The counties having the fewest cases are those in which the diet is principally or almost wholly vegetarian. These are the poor counties whose inhabitants can not afford meat, and whose diet is chiefly buttermilk, potatoes, and Indian meal. Thus it is that for one death from cancer in Kerry County there are four in Armagh and three in Dublin and Londonderry. In these latter counties there is more prosperity and a larger consumption of carnivorous food, while Connaught and Munster, where little flesh is used, share the immunity of Kerry.
While this is only circumstantial evidence of the connection between cancer and a flesh diet, it is evidence which can not be regarded as irrelevant or immaterial; and it is certain that the one who abstains from flesh food is avoiding the increasing risk of infection from that source, as well as avoiding the development of a condition of the system which lays it open to attack from every malignant germ afloat. The fruits of garden, field, and orchard are more inviting, more appetizing, more healthful,—an infinitely better diet in every way.
“Secular Catholic priests” are now doing the work in France that the Religious Associations Law was designed to counteract—especially that of the Jesuits. The Jesuits all, or nearly all, left the country; but they had had sufficient foreknowledge of the coming storm to prepare “laymen” to carry on the work of education. A Catholic contemporary says: “The secular Catholic priests in France number to-day over fifty thousand. They are not disturbed by the law of associations.”
THE wide purpose of the Catholic University of America, situated in Washington, D. C., is becoming more and more manifest. A despatch to the Baltimore Sun says the University “has taken a practical step toward the defense of religious rights [Catholic rights, of course] in the Philippines by sending to Manila Mr. Celestine Sullivan, a newspaper man of Atchison, Kansas, to promote Catholic education in the islands. He will remain three years, establishing and teaching Catholic schools.”
SPAIN is imitating France in legislation regarding religious associations. A recent decree orders all religious associations in the kingdom to apply for authorization within six months. Foreign members of religious orders must record their names at their respective consulates. The decree has caused considerable excitement in Catholic ecclesiastical circles.
THE San Francisco Chronicle says that the recent decision of the Supreme Court puts an end to the argument that we are waging a war of conquest in the Philippines, by declaring that we are simply suppressing a rebellion against our lawful authority, but neither the San Francisco Chronicle nor the Supreme Court can tell how that people forfeited their right to rule themselves, or by what process in equity we acquired the right to rule them against their will. We bought their land from a country which took it from them against their will. We are enforcing our claim by taking the lives of those who defend their right to first possession, and who have tilled the land they are fighting for. Their right to defend it is recognized in law in the right of self-defense. We purchased the people with the land; but their right to the possession of their own persons is recognized in our Constitution, and is recognized by every individual American when it touches his own person. No, the dictum of the Supreme Court has not established the justice of the matter, nor made the forcible acquisition of the Philippines to harmonize with the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution has been abandoned, and the Supreme Court has acquiesced in the abandonment.
THE War Department has made public the first annual report of the governor-general of the Philippine Islands. This report shows that there is still armed resistance to American authority in the provinces of Batangas and Laguna in the island of Luzon, and in the islands of Samar, Cebu, and Bohol. The governor-general states that conditions in the islands are such that there should be no further withdrawal of troops. It can thus be seen that American authority in the islands is maintained only by military force, and it is likely to be so for many years to come.
Some idea of the great financial transactions that are taking place in these days may be gathered from the great losses sustained by Thomas W. Lawson, of Boston, within the past week, through the drop in the price of copper stock. In a few days this financier is reported to have lost $11,000,000. It is understood to be a fight between millionaires for the capturing and cornering of copper stock. Two great concerns, the Rothschilds of England and the Rockefellers of America, are reported to be seeking the absolute control of the copper industry of the whole world.
GOVERNOR YATES of Illinois has issued a proclamation in regard to the distressing condition of the captured Boers and noncombatants in the concentration camps of South Africa, calling upon all charitably disposed persons to contribute to their needs. A report from London states that there is a strong probability that the concentration idea will soon be abandoned, and that those now in the camps will be distributed among the farms of the “pacified” districts.
A NEW method of restoring respiration has been discovered by a well-known physician of Paris. This consists in a manipulation of the tongue, which he calls rhythmical traction. This system has resulted in awakening vitality when all other expedients have failed, and the discoverer has constructed a small electric machine which will carry on the manipulation of the tongue continuously and rhythmically.
THE people of Manila are reported to be pleased over the Supreme Court decision, as it means the return of about $7,000,000 paid into the customs-house in Manila. From the present attitude of Congress, it is probable that there is disappointment in store for the islanders, as it seems very likely that Congress will set up a tariff wall between this country and the Philippines.
ARMY and navy experts who have been giving an official test to the wonderful Gathman gun, of which so much was expected, report that the gun is practically worthless; but another gun has been tested by government experts and found to possess wonderfully destructive powers, accomplishing the object which the Gathman gun was expected to attain.
REPORTS from the island of Samar, Philippines, state that a vigorous campaign is being conducted there against the native forces. Scores of boats used by smugglers in conveying arms and ammunition to the native troops have been captured, and it is reported that the insurgent chief on that island is anxious to make terms of peace.
THE Boston Transcript announces that the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Company has set itself squarely against the cigarette, declaring that it will henceforth refuse employment to any one addicted to the habit of cigarette-smoking. This is in line with a movement which is now quite popular among large eastern concerns.
ON December 5 sixty Chicago millionaires contributed a fund of $50,000 toward the erection of a home and training school for friendless and fallen boys. An appeal was then made to the general public, and the fund was quickly swelled to $132,750. It is expected that the fund will be raised to much more than that amount.
THE President’s message was listened to with marked attention in both House and Senate on December 3. That part referring to the necessity of laws against Anarchy was applauded. His utterance on trusts received no applause, but both sides of the House applauded his recommendation of Chinese exclusion.
THERE have already been introduced in Congress bills providing for the construction of the Nicaragua Canal, for the exclusion of Anarchists and the suppression of Anarchy, for the imposition of a tariff on trade between the Philippine Islands and the United States, and for the exclusion of Chinese laborers.
CHINA is reported to be looking for an ally to support her in opposition to Russia’s demand for Manchuria. It is also reported that Russia has quietly thrown an army of 250,000 men into that province. If the latter report is true, it is evident that Russia’s intention is to hold that part of the Chinese territory.
IN a test made by the New York Central railroad between an electric motor car and a 118-ton steam engine for speed and handling, the results are reported to be considerably in favor of the electric car. This road is contemplating the use of electricity in its service in and around New York City.
OFFICIAL investigations made by the German Municipal Council show that the ranks of the unemployed in that country are growing rapidly. In Berlin there are 20,600 unemployed in the metal trade alone, as against 7,100 unemployed in the same trade at the same time last year.
NICARAGUA’S Minister of Foreign Affairs and the United States Minister to that country have signed a treaty by which Nicaragua agrees to lease perpetually to the United States a strip of land six miles wide, which is to include the route of the proposed Nicaraguan canal.
THE value of the estate of President McKinley, according to the appraisers’ report, amounted to $135,890, of which $60,000 was life insurance. This does not include the real estate, which, under the will, goes to Mrs. McKinley, and amounts to about $60,000.
ON December 6 Mrs. Leland Stanford completed the conveyance of $28,000,000 worth of real estate, stocks, and bonds to the Leland Stanford Junior University at Palo Alto, California. This is the largest amount ever given to one institution by one individual.
CONCESSIONS have been granted for the building of two railroads in the island of Porto Rico, one north and south and the other east and west.
THE British Government is devising a scheme for largely increasing the military forces of Canada for defensive purposes. Imperial funds are to be used in equipping these forces, and in furnishing the necessary ammunition for practise and for the expense of training.
PETRIFIED tropical fruit has been recently found imbedded in coal, mined in Spitzbergen, an island within the Arctic circle north of Europe. This furnishes additional proof that at one time a tropical climate existed in the neighborhood of the North Pole.
A CLUB has been organized in Chicago whose members agree to eat no meat except pork for a period of six months, for the purpose of testing its qualities as a healthful diet. Pork is to be their principal article of food for the time stated.
THE Federal Government at Washington has sent out orders to the effect that all civil service employees must abstain from active participation in politics. Already several employees have lost their places by not observing this rule.
THE governor of Pichili, China, is arranging for the reorganization of the Chinese navy, and for the consolidation of the military forces of that province into an army corps of 100,000 under British and American instructors.
THE British Government has announced that the concentration camps in South Africa have now been placed under the control of the civil authorities, and that every effort will be made to place them in a healthy condition.
THERE has been a great reduction in the British railway and industrial securities since the beginning of the Boer war. The value of this shrinkage in the stock of 325 concerns amounts to the enormous sum of $600,000,000.
ADMIRAL ENDICOTT’S estimate of the amount of money needed for the coming year to maintain and improve navy yards and naval stations is $21,526,359, the largest amount that has yet been asked for from that department.
THE Nicaragua Canal Commission has made its report to the government, and as anticipated in previous despatches favors the Nicaragua route. The estimated cost of construction is as given in previous reports.
SO HEATED have been the debates on the tariff question in the German Reichstag during the week that there have been several demonstrations of disorder and threatened violence on the floor of the chamber.
THE cashier of the Farmers and Merchants’ Bank of Los Angeles, Cal., disappeared on December 7 with between $100,000 and $150,000 of the bank’s money. Nothing is known of his whereabouts.
MOST of the influential press of England comment favorably on the message of President Roosevelt, except that some of them think the Monroe doctrine has been made unnecessarily prominent.
BY the sinking of a steam launch at Goa, on the west coast of India, on December 3, 140 Portuguese were drowned. The accident occurred during the celebration of the feast of St. Xavier.
IT is reported that Russia and China have broken off negotiations in regard to the transfer of Manchuria to Russia. This is believed to have been due to Japan’s objections.
AN American system of telephones is to be introduced in London, the general post-office of that city having given to a Chicago company the sole contract for supplying the city.
THE 21st annual session of the American Federation of Labor is now in session at Scranton, Pennsylvania, with delegates said to represent 1,500,000 workingmen.
ALL the large manufacturers of steel plate are said to have agreed to pool their interests instead of forming a trust. It will work in the same way as a trust.
IT is reported that communication has again been established with the captors of Miss Stone and Mrs. Tsilka, and that the missionaries are still alive.
THE army transport Hancock arrived in San Francisco harbor on December 4 with 912 sick, insane, and discharged soldiers from the Philippines.
CHILE continues purchasing munitions and implements of war, her latest acquisition being three torpedo-boat destroyers and one cruiser.
RICHARD R. TURNER, the keeper of Libby Prison during the civil war, died at Suffolk, Virginia, on December 5, at the age of 63 years.
THE army transport Sheridan arrived in San Francisco harbor on December 7, with 1,555 soldiers from Manila.
THE Senate committee on foreign relations has voted to report favorably the new Hay-Pauncefote canal treaty.
SMALLPOX is epidemic in London, there being 420 cases under treatment in the Thames hospital ships.
THE Twenty-seventh Regiment of Infantry has been ordered to the Philippines.