Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-01

anu contour OIL STOunQ and WOODS. IN
The same way the Arctic hare turns white
turing the winter season. Certain fishes
can initiate the coloration of the sea
bottoms on which they lie. This prn-
cipe in nature has been taken advantage
Of by the men fighting in Europe in the
way OF uniforms which harmonize with
their surroundings and so render them
practically invisible at a short distance
The submarine Deutschland" before
she left the United States was painted
with splotches of white on green so that
at Il short distance she would merge to
sight into the waves. The cancer parasite
following the same law of nature as
sumes the appearance and character Of
the cells that 1t invades. 1t has been this
characteristic, Dr. Clarke claims, that has
fooled the microscopistS and has given
rise TO the theory OF wild cells"
Dr Clarke began with careful study
OF one class or these protocol, called the
MycetoZoa. which we laymcn recognize
In the form Of the yellow grOwths which
form on tan-heaps and decaying wood.
He has found this same little parasite
making ior cancer OF living plants and
lower animals, and one species especially.
the Diuymium, he claimed to have dis
covered in the cysts, or harder parts.
OIL human cancer He has cultivated
these protozoa. and traced them from
almost unrecognizable stages, where
they seemed TO be only cells of the or
ganism, up 10 the point where they arc
active in the causation of cancer in
the human being. AT each stage this
careful investigator has been careful 10
check the growth of the parasite in tho
animal by its development in the plant.
Dr. Clarke shows almost supcrhnman
ingenuity in following the minute para.
sites through all their DISCUSSES by which
they transform themselves so as 10 rr.
ha lie whit
rounded. He claims that all the besr
known species Of parasites assume many
phases, and that the life cycle Of one and
inc same pTotoZoOn may assume forms
which differ as widely as q sponge, n star.
fish and an eel differ from one another in
external appearance.
1t Is a remarkable fact that certain
ulcers caused by diseases of the blood
pass into cancers imperceptibly. Tho
most careful observer finds i, Impossible
to say precisely at what moment an ulcer
becomes a cancer, and DR.. Clarke finds
the same protozoa in both ulcer and can.
Ger, SO that he is led to believe that both
are phases Of the activity OF the same
parasite.
He goes further and says that ii is pos
siblc that cancers are produced by many
species Of protozoa, Just as there arc
many different kinds of bacteria which
cause chronic tumors made up OF granu
lar tissue, granulomas as they are called
The growth Of a tumor or cancer is
explained as being brought about by The
tremendous increase Of the normal body
cells to defend themselves against the
in aiding parasites. This war is always
going on in the body, more or less. 1t is
found all through the protoZoan world
For instance, if the Drotoxoon called
"stylony CHA" is attacked by an "acineta"
ii divides into two parts one part swim
ming away safely, while the other re-
mains as the prey OF the eneriy. But in
this way cells multiply by division, and
this accounts for the very rapid growth Of
many cancers and tumors.
DR. Clarke thus describes his first real
discovery Of fact after years Of hypothe
sis:
1T was not, however till the Spring of
1914 that found the one here briefly de-
scrbed. 4 study OF this protoZoon as
can be gathered from the following notes,
confirmed in most signal manner the
view Of cancer that | have maintained
for the past twenty-five years.
"In London garden, at its southern
end against a boundary wall, is a raised
border. shaded by apple and pear trees
AM more closely by euonymus, box holly
and other shrubs. Fallen leaves have
been swept up and dug into the soil OF
this border in Autumn. After very wet
ana unusually warm Marcn, In the hrSt
days Of April number OF whitish patches
appeared on the surface Of the soil The
patches varied in size and looked as
though a thickish Cruel had been split:
here A few drops, there teaSpoonful
there again as much as Il tablespoonful;
in some places enough to make patch
as large a the palm OF a mans hand
The first patches appeared towards
the west end Of the border on which
some sunshine falls on fine mornings. On
Copyright, 1916. by the Star Com