The Durant News

Health Officer Gives Paper On Cancer

Much of the work of the Health Department is in the prevention of disease. This to a large extent, is done with the very young, but there is also a condition that is shortening the lives of many individuals that is cancer. Cancer is not primarily an eating sore as many people are led to believe but an uncontrolled growth of cells We do not know why any particular cells of the body should start multiplying without any apparent reason, but after the age of forty and particularly after the age of fifty, we find that this condition is not at all uncommon A cancer may originate from the cells of any part of the body but particularly where the cells which from one type change to another as from the dry cells on the outer part of the lip and the moist part of the lip or on the tongue, eyelid, and other openings of the body.

Possibly the quacks do as much devastation with the cancerous patient as with any other known disease.

Of course, many times the quack calls some growth which is not malignant cancerous and most commonly prescribes some caustic salve which he claims is unknown to the medical profession, yet which is used almost every day by the blacksmith and welder in his trade. Occasionally, a quack will cure an early case of cancer but there process is so much more destructive than is necessary. Their methods are definitely known to the medical profession. Any of their salves can be analyzed by the medical profession

Through years of research the medical profession has found methods so far ahead of the quack way of treatment, until it is not at all comparable. Of course, cancer can be cured, but the doctor must have the case under his care very early, and even then we cannot get a hundred per cent cures of all cases. Please allow me to urge you to see your doctor at once should you have a chronic sore or some growth to appear after forty years of age.

Yours very sincerely,
L H. Eubanks. M. D.,
County Health Director.