CANCER AND THE COAL-TAR PRODUCTS. . [To the Editor of
the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—As the increase in the recorded number of cases of cancer is a matter which touches us all, I venture to address this letter to you, although I• am entirely ignorant of medical science. From time to time it is stated that cancer among chimney-sweeps is thought to be caused by soot, arid, in India, Kangri-Basket cancer is known to be caused by charcoal. Petroleum and other coal-tar products are said to be the cause of a not inconsiderable number of cases of skin cancer, and the- Chief Inspector of Factories has made such cancer notifiable. Soot and charcoal have the same root as coal- tar. Coal-tar derivatives, for-,example aspirin and salicylatee, are . being widely used and liquid paraffin is an effective and now a favourite laxative.
Is it suspected that the use of liquid paraffin, and such drugs an aspirin and salicylates, are among the probable causes of the increased number of cancer cases ? Do those who arc competent to -give an opinion- know the ultimate effect of an unabsorbable, mineral oil, such as paraffin, upon the stomach and intestines? You often open your columns to discussions on out-of-the-way matters, with results of the utmost value to the -public. May-I, therefore, express the hope that some . of your readers who are medical men will give- their views on the question ?—I am, Sir, &c.,
ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUEL.
• [We do not, As a rule, care to publish letters on specific medical problems. As however, our correspondent is a Member of Parliament he is entitled, by the custom of the Spectator, .to the- hospitality, of our columns if reasons of space do . not forbid. Accordingly, we publish this letter, but with the proviso that hasty- conclusions from insufficient or mistaken premises •may, in medicine, prove,, not only a source of error, but of injury-1—ED, Spestator.]
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