The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-18
WAR ON CANCER.
The Trypsin Treatment the Only One
 Not Followed by an After-Growth.

Correspondence London Mail.
 In consequence of some important work which has now begun. and is being con- tinued in Germany. the time has come when 1t seems right that the attention of the wide public should be directed to what, indeed, promises to be the dawn of new epoch in the study of cancer and the use of two allied and complementary remedies which are now beginning to re- ceiye the warrant of facts, the weight of which can be appreciated by every one, expert and layman alike.
 , The new development, which seems not merely 10 warrant. but 10 demand, pres ent discussion. is the recent publication In Berlin of an article in the great med ieal journal, Zeitschrift fur Klinische Medizen tVol. 6i.360-3t5. by the foremost official authority upon cancer in the whole world, Prof Von Leyden, professor of medicine in the University of Berlin, and head official of the German Cancer Re- search. It seems more than probable that certain of Irof. von Leyden's opinions fall short of the truth. since their prom ise is less optimistic. in some respects than that indicated by the work of Pro lessor Morton of New York and certain other students who have devoted them selves lately to the subject before us But the significant fact Is that the help of German medical science Is now being de- voted in the highest quarters to the de- Yelopmcnt and completion of the initial discoveries, which, as perhaps we shall some day declare with pride, were made in this country. Professor von Leyden Is now himself at work, and the great in- stitute which he controls and which ex- ists for the study of cancer is setting itself to this problem Following his own f paper in the journal to which 1 have re- ferred is another by two of his assistants, dealing with what may be called the nor maj behavior of trypsin. the dominant remedy In healthy animals.
 O nthis most important point We hays hitherto known very little. There is also shortly to be published paper by an- other follower of von Leyden which shows that the action of trypsn upon can- cer Is q true ferment actlon--in accord anee with the assertion originally made on theoretical grounds by Dr Beard. whose work Is in question. The death rate from malignant disease in England Is not far short of 9,0O0 per annum. and there can not be less than 6O,0oo persons suffering from the malignant disease in this country at this moment.
 Experience shows that drugs and caus- ties, molasses and violet leaves, the high frequency current of electricity and their like do not cure cancer On the contrary as Professor Von Ieyden points out. per- haps the most remarkable feature of the malignant disease s that it responds by increased growth of the malignant tissue to all kinds of mechanical. chemical or thermal injury. To this rule there has now been found, he shows, one excep- ton.
 This Is the Injury to the living cells of a cancer which Is brought about by tryp- sin, the first and most important of the twin remedies-b0th normally present in -xkyb " ar e a ff flt In contrast to all other known applica- tons which may be made to cancer Professor von Leyden has found that in no case does cancer. part of which has already been digested and destroyed by trypsin subsequently, react with increased growth eitaer locally or elsewhere. This assertion. though not first made by Pro- lessor yon Leyden. is in itself unprece- dented. and even If it depended upon his authority all ne, It would be sufficient to excite hopes of the greatest things in the minds of all who are studying the prob- lem of cancer
 Surely then l have not failed to demon- strate that this question is worthy of our attention notwithstanding the bitter ex- perence which teaches us that ths chances are almost infinite against any assertion of good news about cancer. It can be practi- ed by any properly qualified physician or surgeon. and the proposed remedies are not in the hands of any par ticular firm of chemists, but can be pre- pared by any and are prepared by many. Despite all the failures of the past we may assure ourselves that though error is infinite. truth exists, and the discovery of truth is all ...e more likely for the rec ognlton of tine previous error.
 Hnen our studdy Is completed we shall have to judge whether or not we are upon the track of the saving truth at last