The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-19

O. S9Oi = u iSSOiiiAiiSAud IONS and reciDes
for the cure of the disease from every
parts of the world. But. after the most
careful consideration of them all. at the
request of members of the family thew
were found to be valueless.
Although the profession woula boi1
with delight any new discovery on +ba
lines indicated, it is simply ready IN On
courage investigation and await praofs
The truth, so far, is quite bitter hut
still, it is truth for all that
There are many old and conservative
physicians" safd DR.. Robert F. Weir
who believe that cancer is a growth of
cells which were arrested in DEVELOPMENT
and who do not think the disease is of
germ origin.
MANY junior members of the nor
fesion-and, although I am gray haired
still like to rank myself with them
lhlnk that it may be Of germ origin.
FOR the last ten years pathologists
nave been experimenting on animals. and
many have set forth claims that they
have found the origin of cancer. But the
truth Of these claims has not vet been
demonstrated
Nevertheless, the medical profession is
watching their efforts, and believesthat
they are proceeding in the right direction.
These germs, or cell growths however,
which so many maintain to be the origin
of cancer. may be only the accompanf-
ments of cancer, thriving on the juices
of the disease
''Thehe discoveries have not been prov
en- as the originating causes of cancer.
All germs are of vegetable origin, so the
disease may be of germ origin and yet
be a cell growth Of vegetable nature.
1--WE are closely watching the expert
m ents, but we cannot accept any claim
until it has been proven by many path
ologists who command the respect of the
profession. The experiments have so far
not altered the present method of treat
ing canceroUs Diseases"
''Of course we are keeping a watch on
the matters laid before US by these inves-
tigators," said DR.. William NJ. Polk, land
We are continually seeking to prove or to
refute what they profess to have done.
II don't know that very much has been
accomplished toward proving that cancer
is of vegetable origin, but the interest of
members of the medical profession in
these investigations has by no means
diminished.
MANY interesting results have been OBJ
tanned by inoculating animals in the en-
deavOr to discover a parasitic cause for
cancer, but we must always cansider
whether the human body is not a much
more fertile field for cancerous growths.
1--WE still have to rely on surgery in
treating the disase and the knife is of
muchbeneft in opposing the advance of
very malignant and display a rapid
growth. Some increase so rapidly in the
course of a year that scarcely anything
can be done with them. Those whose
growth is slower and more easily term
mated
"Old persons. who are more subject to
cancerous diseases than younger ones.
rarely have the rapidly growing cancers.
This is due undoubtedly to the slower
action of their tissues. In young persons
such diseases grow rapidly and are more
liable to assume a dangerous form"
whether cancer is due to a vegetable
fungus" said Dr.Austin Flint, sis a ques-
ton which is one for the surgeons and
pathologists to decide. For my part, I
have not formed an opinion on the Sub
iect"
DR. Charles McBurney. who, as sur
geon, has gained wide experience in the
treatment of cancer. said:
"a vast amount Of work is being done
in the direction of trying to learn whe1her
! the origin of cancer IS a mlcfo-organism.
This theory has been advanced for many
years. but more is being ACCOMPLISHED
] o1a ba tar but
at any previous time.
at is held that cancer may be cell
growth and yet be caused by a microbe,
| producing the growth of cells. The the
DRY has. however, not yet been demon
strated to general satisfaction.
1T seems sound theory, and 1t may
be the right one The true solution viii
be found in the future, I believe. AS yet
! we know of no other treatment for the
| disease than surgery"
"Do you think that 1t is a cell growth, E"
I asked
Eyes, it may be-" replied DR.. McBur-
ney.
IN that case could it be of vegetable
or.gin?"
cit may be a vegetable microbe,' said
! DR.. McBurney, although The medical
/ profession has not generally recognized
it as such. But it is far too early to form
an opinion on the subject
THE theories and experiments O. Bra,
Plimmer and others have been by no
means abandoned. Those men may only
be on the right track. and It IS the only
line on which the present Investigations
g1e being pursued"
CT no
| IS considered one of the lecdiag authors
ties on the subject Of cancer ii this cocn-
try. said;
The profession has by no means ADOPT
ell the view that cancer IS os parasitic
origin For about twenty years patholo-
gists have been working oa thai theory.
The French and Italians have d,ne nc
greatest amount Of work IN that direc-
/ tinn.
The German scientists are sceD.ica'
IN regard TO the theory. Lack. an Erg-
nzhman. has ACCOMPLISHED the latest
work in seeking TO learn the orisin OF
/ cancer. He experimented on deg. q
normal animal. opening the cvary and
scrauing off a few cells. which ne Per
miJted to foat in the fluid.
Lack then closed cd the wound he
! repeated the same experiment with sew
eral other animals. After period OF
from one 10 three months he killed ami
mats and found that perfect CD Sos e can
Ger had developed from the nliFo' acet
ce,.s
"Thss experiment practically substanti
ates Cohnheim's theory Of the embrv0nit
origin OF cancer. which Is the exp ana
ton OF the disease generally acceoted a
the present day. 1t IS entirely 2sans
the parasitic origin Of cancer.