Some years ago Braithwaite called attention to the occurrence of cancer among certain peoples who were vegetarians, and attributed it to the great amount of salt which they consumed. While the suggestion of salt being a cause of cancer has been ridiculed, it is quite possible that a great excess of sodium chloride may disturb the salt equilibrium in the blood, by replacing the potassium which is so necessary for proper cellular nutrition, and also by hindering the excretion of uric acid, as Haig has pointed out.
When we inquire into the cause of the systemic disturbance which tends to such faulty metabolism that the nutrition of cellular structures is deranged, even to the degree of taking on malignant action, we find many possible elements, more or less connected with what is known as modern civilization, to which we have time to but briefly allude. Williams has shown pretty clearly that wealth, with its tendency to luxury and idleness, greatly increased the proclivity to cancer: not only is this observed in different countries, but in certain cities the difference is very striking between the cancer mortality in sections which are occupied by the rich and well-to-do, and those in which the poorer classes are herded. Also in England it was found in one decennium that cancer mortality was more than twice as great among the well-to-do men, having no specific occupation, as among occupied males in general, the ratio being 96 to 44.
Change in the mode of life, and sudden changes of environment have also been found to have a great effect in the production of cancer, as has already been mentioned in another lecture.
Finally, for our time does not permit a fuller discussion, nervous conditions unquestionably can and very often do exert a profound influence on the secretion of the various organs of the body, and can so disturb digestion, metabolism, and nutrition that the most varied results may follow, to which the names of different diseases are given; so that nerve strain, more or less incident to modern life, must be accredited with a certain share of influence in the production of cancer. The part which imperfect and deficient intestinal and urinary excretion play in inducing or perpetuating the disease will be treated of in later lectures.
In our next lecture we will consider certain matters relating to the medical treatment of cancer, but from long experience and study I am firmly convinced that such measures are of relatively little service unless coupled with a rigid care of the diet and hygiene. As Bell remarks, “Cancer is essentially a disease supervening upon a persistent neglect of hygienic laws.” It is a disease of sub-oxidation, and all the hygienic elements of importance in tuberculosis are equally necessary in cancer; fresh air and sunlight with, as far as possible, an ideal regulation of life in all its aspects, are indispensable.
Inasmuch as there is no specific medical antidote for cancer, and we cannot be certain of securing at once the metabolism of health, it is wise to remove and to keep away from the system those articles which have been shown to have more or less influence in its production, namely, animal proteids, coffee, tea, and alcoholics. Time does not admit a discussion of vegetarianism, nor is it necessary, for there is abundant evidence in literature and on every side that perfect health can be maintained thereby, and I went over the subject pretty thoroughly two years ago. The vegetable kingdom contains protein enough to build up and maintain the tissues of the body, as is shown in animals, and an extra number of calories can be easily obtained from butter, of which a quarter of a pound contains some 800 calories, or fully one-third of the total daily quantity required by most individuals. The details of a purely vegetarian diet, which experience has shown to be of the greatest value in cancer, can be worked out for individual cases as required. I am also firmly convinced that in this absolutely vegetarian diet, with other proper hygienic and medicinal measures, to be detailed next week, we shall find a great power for the prevention of cancer; although many persons are already so saturated with poisoned blood and tissues from prolonged errors of life, that perhaps no very striking general effect on the community can be obtained therefrom in this generation.
In closing this lecture I must again urge upon you the necessity of great patience and perseverance, with very much careful study of the patient in all particulars, over a great length of time, if really favorable results are to be obtained in cancer; and this is true whether the disease be incipient, or fully developed, or even post-operative. The causes of cancer are deep seated, and, as with many chronic affections, there is no tendency to continue an improvement once begun, but under a return to the same conditions as before the disease will certainly assert itself. We have learned the lesson of assiduous perseverance in tuberculosis; let us learn it in regard to cancer.
LECTURE V
MEDICAL TREATMENT OF CANCER
It is remarkable that so little serious attention has been paid to the medical treatment of cancer, in standard works, in view of the occasional strong statements and reports which have appeared from time to time in current literature and in occasional books, dating back for many years. Much of this, of course, relates to imperfect observation and erroneous diagnosis, and also to crude medical knowledge, but there have been also plenty of good men, who knew the disease and have reported favorable results, and even the complete disappearance of cancer, under dietetic regimen and proper medication alone, without operative interference of any kind.
Not to go back too far, reference can be made to Lambe, who one hundred years ago wrote clearly in regard to the causation of cancer from luxurious living, and adduced strong proof to show the effect of diet in curing certain cases of undoubted cancer of the breast and uterus, the diagnosis of which was confirmed by prominent surgeons of the day, several of whom endorsed the vegetarian diet. Abernethy wrote pointedly, soon after, regarding the constitutional origin of tumors and says, “There can be no subject which I think more likely to interest the mind of the surgeon, than that of an endeavor to amend and alter the state of a cancerous constitution. The best timed and best conducted operation brings with it nothing but disgrace, if the diseased propensities of the constitution are active and powerful. It is after an operation that, in my opinion, we are most particularly incited to regulate the constitution, lest the disease should be revived or renewed by its disturbance.” He then gives an endorsement of Lambe’s dietetic treatment of cancer, and presents several reasons why it should be fairly tried.