The Menace of Cancer

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Apr 28, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 16.

The Menace of Cancer

THE recent meeting of the noted surgeons of the country in New York City gave considerable study to the report of the American Society for the Control of Cancer. It was claimed that radium, which has given great promise of help in curtailing the increase of cancer, was proving a failure. Dr. Wood, director of the cancer research at Columbia University, says a surgical operation is the only cure, and that these other treatments are merely temporary or palliative. Dr. William H. Mayo, the surgeon of international fame from Rochester, Minnesota, "gave us a ray of hope that a change in the habits and customs of the people may reduce the disease."

Quite a number of the foremost doctors of the world are reaching the conclusion that the increased consumption of meat is responsible for the rapid increase of cancer. This malady stands next to tuberculosis in the list of fatal diseases; and if its present increase continues, it will soon stand at the head.

Many people believe that they have to eat meat in order to live, but this is a great mistake. The greatest strength and the greatest immunity from disease come to the one who knows how to use intelligently the fruits, the grains, and the vegetables that are so abundantly supplied. The use of meat is increasingly dangerous, because of the many butchers who are so unscrupulous as to slaughter animals that are breaking down under disease, and place their infected carcasses on the market for the people to eat.