The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1914-06-19
CANCER A PUZZLE
In Many of Its Phases 1t Battles
Medical Science.
ITS CAUSES ARE NOT KNOWN.

Neitner Is IL HeVeateo Wnethef the
Disease Is Hereditary or Not-In Its
First Stage 1t is CurabIe-How the
Malignant Growths Spread.
"The word cancer says Worlds
Work, though 1t figures largely in
popular speech, is used with less and
less frequency in 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 manifests itself
THE human body in its ideal condi-
ton is a symmetrical product. 1t con
sists of a multitude Of parts, each de
veloping not only with reference to it
self, but in perfect harmony with the
rest of the organism subtle influ-
ence. known as the power Of organiza.
ton, regulates this highly important
matter. An arm, a leg. nose, q chin
any organ or member which one cares
to name-does not develop independ-
emily, but preserves important rela-
tions with the rest of the body. Our
four fingers and thumbs have constant
ly in mind the rights of one another
When one reaches n certain size it
does not keep on growing. but stops
If it still went on Il single finger would
reach length of several feet in a life
time
ANY obseryant person, however, is
aware that this law is constantly vio-
lated. On almost any part of the body
little Independent growths start into
existence. These are composed of mi
mute groups Of rebellious 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 com
monty known as warts and moles.
There are other more noteworthy pro-
tuberances, such as 'wens that grow
/ inexplicably frequently upon the scalp,
reach a certain size. and then stop.
! This latter growth belongs to the gen.
| eraI class of tumors known as be-
! nign. They are benign simply because
| after developing slnggishy to a certain
point their growth is mysteriously ar
rested. Between benign tumors ana
1 the most malignant cancers there is
| only this differences: That the latter
have the power Of unlimited growth.
T "The true cancer, once started on its
riotous career, keeps on and digs deep
| into healthy surrounding tissue and
destroys it, until finally, for a variety
of reasons. it kills the patient In some
cases q benign growth which has re-
mained quiescent for years suddenly
develops a new vitality and becomes
malignant There are those who main
| tain, though the occurrence is certain
ly rare that a harmless wart may
sometimes develop into a 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 it's activity to the original
seat, but starts new cancers In other
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 tc
the study of the disease and to grasT
hold Of anything that may indicate q
possibility Of it's alienation. The
points upon which the authorities or
cancer In this country agree, says the
New York World, are as follows:
First.-Cancer in its first stage il
local and is durable.
Second-The causes of cancer are no
known.
Third.-It is not known whether o.
, not cancer Is hereditary.
J Fourth. There is absolutely no cure
for cancer except to cut it out.
} Fifth.-Go to a physician at the frs
sign Of trouble Preferably. be exam
{ ined by a physician at FREQUENT inter
. walls anyhow.
t Sixth.-The idea that cancer in plants
t may give rise to cancer in man is fan
tastic Tumors are not contagious.
/ Standardization does not perma
? nently cure internal cancer. 1t ma,
check the growth for awhile, but soon
er or later it comes back. Popular be
lief in radium is based on the fact tha
only the occasional cures are hear
t from-not the failures. The failure
outnumber the cures 100 to l.
t A Good Sign.