Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-25

distinguished experimentalst at Rockefeller
Institute"
There ere certain occupations in which
direct connection exists between the
character of the work and development of
cancer. For instance, In Roentgen ray
technictans, especially in those who began their
work in the first years following the discovery
of the rays, when the dangers connected with
this occupation and the various precautions
used at the present time were as yet unknown,
gradually, often after many years Of work &
painful condition Of the skin arose. mainly on
the hands and arms which were exposed to the
rays. 1t became thickened, cracked, ulcers
formed The epithelium grew further down
into the deeper tissues and slowly a carcinoma
developed. which later made metastases
spread. Approximately seventy cases are
known where, cancer thus developed and In
some cases 1t developed considerable time
after the exposure to the Roentgen rays had
ceased
Chimney sweeps develop relatively fire.
quently cancer Of the skin. The cause Of
this cancer Is the irritation produced by SCOT
Those who employed in the distillation of
tar-especially Of gas work tar--in the manufac-
turing of grease and briquettes, are liable to
develop cancer of the skin. Certain organic
substances contained In tar and pitch cause
the development Of warts on the skin, which
later break down and become transformed into
cancers
In men employed in the manufacturing OF
aniline dyes, and certain other benzol derive
tives, wart-like excrescences Of the skin may
appear, but especially interesting is the fire.
quent appearance of cancers of the bladder
In such cases. Fitch of the affected men had
been in the dye works for twenty years or
more. Evidently substances excreted through
me kidneys exert in such cases an Irritating
action on the epithelium of the bladder
We see then that under the influence of
considerable variety Of agencies, cancer can
deVlop in the human body and that In many
cases cancer is preceded by the formation OF
warty excrescences, and in other cases by
long continued liberation, which In itself
seems to be able to lead to the formation OF
cancer.
Long continued irritation is not ALWAYS
necessary, but in certain cases one single tran.
matlsm may undoubtedly cause the devotion.
ment Of cancer. While, however. long con.
tlnued irritation usually leads to the lorna.
tlon OF carcinoma, one single traumatism
causes more frequently the development of
sarcoma. Thus. cases are known in which
Two months after blow on the eve a sarcoma
began to grow at the place Of injury; in
child sixteen months old sarcoma of the
ciltary body of the eye deyeloped after a
dow; a sarcoma OF the arm followed stab
wound at the site of injury. There are also
cases on record in which bone sarcoma de.
veloped after fracture OF the bone and after
An extraction OF tooth the development of a
cancer has been observed in the jaw. Also
carclnomata of the jaw originated subsequent
to an extraction of tooth
Heredity is undoubtedly factor IN those
cancers which develop occasionally in cases
of augmented moes. We know that here the
conditions preceding cancer are hereditary.
and therefore cancer itself Is indirectly
hereditary. We furthermore know that Ger.
tain class Of cancers originates on the basis
Of embryonic malformations and inasmuch as
these are under certain--as yet not well de.
transformations hereditary. we may assume
that certain cancers belonging to this class
are also hereditary