Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-15
Their Health.
N ny long Investigations OF the subjects OF
MI cancer have led me TO the conclusion
that the disease is due TO cells long over

iNH cancer nave leu me 70 lhe SoACiu9AoA
~ that the disease is due to cells long over
developed in an irritated area of the body.
They are over-deveoped like plants in hot
houses by a slow and prolonged increase Of
heat and food supplies At the end of a GER
tain time they acquire hereditarily the char
acteristics of over-production and over-nutri-
ton which distinguish them.
I find especially that the nutritive element
on which cancer feeds most abundantly like all
other cells in active development is glycogen
Cthe form Of sugar secreted by the liver.
Well-nourished bodies and organs favor the
rapid development Of cancer. Persons enfeebled
by age or sickness are less subject to cancer
OF at least TO its rapid growth. We know that
cancer is less frequent among the tuberculous
than the equity In the poorly nourished old
person the tumor growth takes usually tor
pid form.
Prosperous diabetes are the class of persons
most subject to cancer. The excess of gyco-
gen secreted by their livers furnishes nourish-
meut TO the tumor. At the same time the de-
velopment OF a cancer in a diabetc causes
decrease Of this elimination of sugar, indicating
that the tumor absOrbs part OF the hydrocar-
bOns Of the system.
In many ways we have found that glycogen
feeds cancer. Feyers use up hydrocarbons,
which change into glycogen in the body and
they often produce an ameliorauon OF cancer.
When a cancer is removed from a mouse sec
ondary growths in other parts of the body in
crease suddenly, indicating that there was just
enough glycogen to feed the original tumor.
Professor Guepa has found when dieting per-
sons for rheumatism and obesity there was
marked decrease OF cancers from which they
were suffering Reduction Of food may have
the effect OF diminishing cancer but cannot be
regarded as a sufficient treatment.
reject the theory that cancer is OF micro
bau origin and consequently must deny its
coutariousness The malignant cells can be
grated but not inoculated. II would require
more time than ] can give now TO discuss the
subjects of cancer houses and cancer cages.
] may say however that the conditions Of nu-
triton and parasitism which l have found eX-
plain satisfactorily the existence of cancer
cages" As 10 cancer houses" the very limited
number of them permits us to believe that they
are simple condolences.
Is there a pre-disposition OF the body to can
Ger? Il is true that my theory OF local irrita-
ton removes all idea of direct heredity, because
it shows cancer to be only the result OF local
condition Of cellular nutrition. But II cancer
IS not hereditary there are certain general
states of I'm health which realize more easily
than others the local conditions favoring its
development. These conditions we know are:
J. Constant irritation produced by an agent
within or without the body. >. Constitutional
irritabnity which dilates the blood vessels and
raises the temperature. 3. The amount Of nu-
tritive elements present, including gycogen
and salts.
The irritant when It does not come from
without the body, may be furnished by
chronic innammatory condition. Thus rheum
atism and certain blood diseases are causes
OF prolonged local cellular Inflammation. ALL
mpnts which bring irritabity Of the blood
vessels such arterial over-pressure and
arterio-sclerosis. dispose the body to local
reactions that bring on abnormal cell
formation. 4 prosperous dabetc person
secreting an abnormal quantity of glycogen
will bring TO the irritated cells a blood
supply oyercharged with nutrition. Some Of the