The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-19
ORIGIN OF CANCER
Discussed by Eminent New
York Physicians
NONE OF The THEORIES
To Account for 1t Has Been
Proved, They Say.
NONE OF The THEORIES

New York, Nov. 1S-The Herald has the
following: What is cancer? Is it durable?
Physicians have been asking these Ques-
ton of each other and Of nature for
years upon years. From the European
edition of the Herald there is printed
on this page an exhaustive article en- re-
cent researches. telling Of the expert
ments made to ascertain whether can
c. was related to actinonyces, the fun
GUS that appears in ears Of wheat. rs
the primordial cause of human cancer
in the vegetable kingdom and the canksI
OF trees?" is the question asked.
The question has been put II ieso:ng
specialists throughout the United States.
What do they know of cancer? Can they
cure It? Such authorities in surgery, bac-
teriology and pathology as DR.. Robert f.
Weir, DR. George F. Shardy, DIR. William
NJ Polk, Dr. Austin Flint, Dr. Charles
McBurney, DR.. James Ewing, DR.. Henry
p. LOOMS, DR.. Charles Dowd and DR..
William T. Bull. of this city, and lead
ing men in the medical profession else
where, have given TO the Herald their.
opinions on the subject.
That the progress made by pathologists
who are trying to isolate the parasitic
cause of cancer is proceeding but slowly
and that the only successful mode of
treating the disease is stfllby the use Of
the surgeons knife is the ouinion Of the
majority of the New York surgeons, mi
croscopists and pathologists interviewed
on the subject.
These man who are all recognized au-
thorities on cancerous diseases, cypress
themselves as being greatly interested
in the experiments Of foreign investiga-
tors. While they cannot accept any the
cries that have not been proven by lead
ers who possess the confidence Of the
medical profession, they are almost unan-
imous in cherishing the hope that the So
luton Of this serious problem will be
found in the near future
'Inspite of all the apparently taking
theories" said DR.. George F. Shrady,
concerning the possible origin of cancer
in the human system, in its reputed pro
pagation from the vegetable kingdom to
animal tissue, and the hopeful promises
that have been made for its more sue
cessful treatment the profession still
holds its old front regarding the desper-
ate nature Of the disease.
''No microbe has yet been discovered
for cancer, in spite of what DR.. Bra be-
lieves. His alleged discovery has not
been accepted by the medical profession
generally either here or abroad
1.-The principal reason for this is that
cancer is an active animal cell growth,
entirely different from that produced by
any vegetable parasite whatever. The
ordinary diease producing microbes, Of
which that Of diptheria IS the type, is one
which kills by the secretion of an active
poison while cancer is Indignantly des
tructive by the invasion Of neighboring
healthy organs.
"Microbic diseases can be inoculated,
but cancer never. There Is no known
case where cancer has been communicat-
ed to another person during an operation.
The surgeon, who, OF all others. is most
exposed TO such an accident. has never
been known to contract cancer by alb
s0rntiva wounds during an operation, Il
is prima facia evidence that the original
disease is not cancer.
"Microbic diseases are most prevalent
curing early lie. lancer Is IIlOSl ire
quently seen in the aged. Cancer attacks
persons in full health. Microbic diseases
attack the young and feeble persons.
"A vegetable micro-organism is not con
vertable into an animal tissue growth.
On general principles you have no more
right to expect this than that herbiv-
orous animal should become a carnivor-
Gus one. You might as well expect to
find cloven foot on a tiger, or a claw on
an o..
Cancer has a special law Of growth for
itself. It's methods Of propagation are
widely different from those diseases due
TO microbic infection.
THUS far. inspite of the advertisements
of wonderful salves to- cure cancer. and
Of the thermal remedies that ore .;kewlse
Wanted by ignorant pretenders and
Quacks. it is generally conceded that the
only hone IS in early surgical operation.
"The general idea Is that no internal
remedy has been found for cancer. Dur
ing the time that General Grant was I'll
tire attending physicians were floodedwith