The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-11-22
THINKS OUTLOOK BAD
DR.. Shrady Takes Discourag-
ing View of Cancer.
IN TIE EMPEROR'S CASE
His Editorial on Heredity and
Its Possibilities.

London, Nov. 21.-Far from optimistic
Is the view DIR. George f. Shrsdy takes
OF of ailment OF Emperor William OF Ger
many. In an editorial published yester-
day in the Medical Record he lays stress
on the Importance of hereditary influence
when one seeks to foretell what the out
come OF the Emperor's throat trouble VIII
be. He also points out that his father
and mother died OF cancer.
DR.. Shrady's experience in many SINH
lar cases. and especially in the case of
ex-President Grant. who died of cancer
Of the throat, lends additional weight
to his words. He writes:
The extirpation of what is officially
called polypus from the left vocal
chord Of the Emperor of Germany, al
though a very trivial operation in it
self, carries with it a great deal OF sig
nifcance regarding the possibility OF
a speedy and absolute cure of the dis
ease. In fact, the whole question turns
upon the prognosis OF the case. So far
the reports are favorable, and the mi
croscope has declared the growth 10 be
myximatous in character and free from
any evidences OF malignancy.
More important than this is the con-
sideration Of the influence of heredity,
in determining the ultimate outlook for
the distinguished patient. In nearly .
per cent of the reported cases of laryn-
geal cancer one or either OF the parents
of the victims died of the disease. In
the case of the Kaiser. both his father
and mother were afflicted with malig-
nant disease, as also his uncle. His father
lived but little over a year after throat
symptoms were developed, and his mother
died in the third year OF a generous
affection Of the breast. From the side of
heredity his prospects are certainly not
very strongly guaranteed against the pos
sible malignant development of what now
appears to be only an innocent intrS-
laryngeal trouble.
Nor can the early miscroscopical ex-
aIninations always be considered the abb
solute tests OF safety OF opinion 1t GER
tainly was not SO In the case Of the late
Crown Prince OF Germany. as no less an
authority than Virchow declared at the
time when the hrst operation was per-
formed on that royal parsonage that the
cerous tendency, and yet within two
months afterward that distinguished au-
thority was known to have been mis-
taken
''All this shows thar so long as any
portion of any superhuous epithelial
growth remains in a person of suscep-
tible age, and especially if such An ex-
crescence be subject to the more or less
continuous irritation, no one can be alb
solutely safe against malignant degen-
Grafton. Thus 1t IS always a very i'm
portant question whether or not the
disease is thoroughly eradicated at the
first operation and also whether or not
the wound heals in the shortest posi-
bic time.
1T is generally admitted that in pro-
portion to the early and complete full
filment Of these conditions is the tend
ency to recurrence reduced.
when such course is impossible
the microscopical examination OF the
merely superficial portions OF the tumOr
are not always trustworthy as indicat-
ing immunity from future trouble, rs
not infrequently the removed parts may
present healthy tissue elements, while
the base may show distinctly cancerous
changes Obviously, then, the main con-
sideration is to leave only absolutely
healthy tissue in the bed OF the wound
This has evidently been the fulfilled
purpose in the Emperor's case, and the
prognosis has at present all the de-
sired hopefulness Of a thoroughly sue
cessful operation"
In any event, months OF time must
elapse, even under most favorable con-
ditions, before all anxiety can be allayed
regarding a possible recurrence OF the
excrescence. IN the mean while IL viii
be necessary TO keep a strict and con-
slant watch for any unfavorable symp
toms