The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1914-06-05
CANCER A PUZZLE
In Many of Its Phases It Battles
Medical Science.
ITS CAUSES ARE NOT KNOWN.

Neither Is u Revealed Whether the
Disease Is Hereditary or Not-in It's
First Stage II Is CurabIe-How the
Malignant Growths Spread.
The word cancer" says Worlds
Work. though it figures largely In
popular speech. Is used with less and
less frequency i'm medical literature.
There Is probably no word comprehen-
sive enough to include all the kinds Of
abnormal growths to which the human
frame is subject. Cancer is merely
one shape in which this tendency to
malformation manfests itself.
The human body i'm its ideal condi-
ton is n symmetrical product. 1t con-
sists of Il multitude of parts, each de-
veloping not only with reference to it.
self. but in perfect harmony with the
rest of the organism. A subtle influ-
cnce. known as the power of organiza-
tion. regulates this highly important
matter. An'arm, II leg. Il nose. a chin
any organ or member which one cares
to name-does not develop independ-
emily. but preserves important rela-
tons with the rest of the body. Our
four fingers and thumbs have constant
ly in mind the rights of one another.
When one reaches Il certain size Il
does not keep on growing but stops
If it still went on single finger would
reach q length of several feet i'm life
time.
ANY observant person. however, Is
aware that this law is constantly vic.
lated. On almost any part of the body
little independent growths start into
existence. These are composed Of mi
mute groups of rebelious cells, small
colonies which for some reason ignore
this law of development and start on
an independent existence Of their own.
They serve no physiological purpose.
When harmless, as they frequently
are. they are merely incOnvenient
blemishes. When dangerous they end
by destroying life.
mild manifestations of this lawless
tendency are the queer formations CON-
monty known as warts and moles.
There are other more noteworthy pro-
tuberances, such as 'wens.' that grow
ineyplicably. frequently upon the scalp,
reach a certain size.~ and then stop.
This latter growth belongs to the gen.
eral class Of tumors known as be-
nign. They are benign simply because
after developing sluggishly to IA certain
point their growth is mysteriously ar
rested. Between benign tumors and
the most malignant cancers there Is
only this difference: That the latter
have the power OF unlimited growth.
THE true cancer. once started on its
riotous career, keeps on aud digs deep
into healthy surrounding tissue and
destroys it, until finally. for variety
of reasons. it kills the patient. In some
cases benign growth which has re-
manned quiescent for years suddenly
develops a new vitality and becomes
malignant. There are those who main
tain. though the occurrence is certain
~ rare. that a harmless wart may
sometimes develop into IA genuine can
GER The point to be brought in mind
is that all these abnormal growths are
related that the only thing that makes
one malignant and another not is this
tendency to keep growing.
"a genuine cancer in its final stages
has another development. 1t no long
er confines its activity to the original
parts of the body. Certain groups OF
cancer cells break away from the pri-
mary headquarters. escape into the
blood stream and start new grOwths
elsewhere. This Is the phenomenon
known as 'generalized cancer"
Millions Of dollars have been devoted
to the study of cancer and its cure. and
every known scientist is wide awake to
the study of the disease and to grasp
hold of anything that may Indicate a
possibility of its alienation. The
points upon which the authorities on
cancer in this country agree, says the
New York World. are as follows:
First.-Cancer in its first stage in
local and is durable.
SecOnd.-The causes of cancer are not
known.
Third.-It is not known whether or
not cancer is hereditary.
Fourth. There is absolutely no cure
for cancer except to cut IL out.
Fifth.-Go to n physician at the first .
sim of trouble. Preferably. be exam T.
med by physician at frequent inter I,
walls anyhow.
SiXth.-The idea that cancer in plants
may give rise 10 cancer in man Is fan
tastic. Tumors are not contagious.
Seventh.-Iiadium does not perma- !
nently cure internal cancer II may b
check the growth for awhile but soon ;
ar or later IL comes back. Popular be I
lief in radum Is based on the fact that .
only the occasional cures are heard .
from-not the failures. The failures
OutIIumber tue cures 100 to I.
A Good Sign.
In digging out an apothecary'S shop