The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-10
THE ORIGIN OF TUMoRS.
Several Theories About Causes of the
Dreaded and Dangerous GrOwths.

Several Theories About Causes of the
Dreaded and Dangerous GrOwths.
Heredity has been accused as the chief
factor in the origin of tumors. But the
evidence is very uncertain, for the disease
is 50 common that not many families are
without a history of tumor development
in some of their branches. Statistics give
a history Of heredity in only IA per cent. of
the superficial cancers, and in 81 per cent.
in some of the deeper forms. Similar fig
ures could doubtless be obtained for many
of the common fatal diseases, such as
pneumonia and Bright's disease.
A previous injury is often thought to be
the cause of tumor, and in some of the
rarer forms of cancer (sarcoma) there can
be no question that it is the cause in nu-
merous cases. But when it is recalled how
many injuries are received in all parts OF
the body without causing the development
of tumor it will be perceived that there
is but little ground for the general appli-
cation of the theory. There is more reason
for accepting the constant irritation of
some spot as the cause for the development
of malignant growth, for many cancers
of the tongue and lips have been caused by
the irritation of a short tobacco pipe con
stantly smoked or the rough point of de
cayed tooth.
One of the most fascinating of all the
theories which have been advanced is that
which supposes that at some time in the
development of the body particle of tissue
intended for one part-the skin, for exam
ple-has gone astray and been buried some
where else, and that some accident has
awakened its cells to vigorous growth after
hay nj nt for
is almost impossible to make this theory
clear to one who has not studied biology,
but some idea of it can be formed by study
Ing the development of the body of the
chick in the egg during the process of
Matching.
The mass of living cells in the yolk OF
the egg can be observed to spread out into
a flattened oval, consisting of two layers,
each destined to develop into certain or
gans. This fat mass then becomes folded
upon itself, sends out prolongations Of its
cells in different directions, and gradually
assumes the shape of the body and organs
of the chick. To one who has followed
these changes it seems not at all unlikely
that some minute portions of tissue might
be displaced and become the seeds from
which tumors might afterward take their
OTlBlu DuI mere again VIC dFo AZ a loss 10
understand what accident finally starts
the seed to growing.
The recent discoveries as to the impor-
lance of bacteria in the causation OF disease
have given fresh impulse TO the thought
that the tunors may be due to some micro
organism which finds its way into the sys-
tenn. By way Of analogy, the tumors
which are found growing in some plants,
and especially the extraordinary varieties
of gals which form around the eggs OF
insects when deposited in the tissues Of
plants, also favor this theory, but yet
no decisive facts have been collected, and
all is mere conjecture. For the present
we watch and wait, hoping for enlight
eminent In the future, and turning the
knowledge which we have been able 20
gain TO the practical use Of relieving the !
suffering of the victims Of this disease.-B. |
Farquhar Curtis, NJ. D., and William T. |
Bull, NJ. D., in Harpers.