Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-21

frequently the relationship Is not
so clear and the clinician must con-
slider responsible for the disease.
In other cases. the treatment Of
septice foci win not at once give
relief from symptoms, and increase
In general symptoms frequently
follows the removed Of tonsils and
infected teeth. thus destroying the
patients faith In the doctrine Of
focal infection. The occurrence of
fatal seuticemia followed opera
tiers on inflicted organs.
The infection about a tooth may
net give rise to any symptoms OF
which the patient is conscious. and
yet TO the physician or dentist be
cleorlv the cause G. even remote
symptoms.
The great difficulty In tracing
cause and effect in these cases has
also caused come physicians to- dis
trust the principle OF focal infection
1t is assumed that IL the search
Is through exten7nve the offending
inflammatory lesion will be found.
III the lesion Is latent and obscure.
extra pdecaution Is necessary in
arriving at a diagnosis.
In the realm or speculation most
men are equal. I have no datd upon
which I might base a definite con-
clusicn In regard to the matter. SO
musa indulge in q bot of specula-
ton in regard to the possibility
and even probability. If focal in
lection which has thus had oppor-
tunitv for long and continued ir-
ritation. must be very positive and
definite In this connection. The
freedom from ICE enjoyed bv
the American Indian. and by all
aborigines. so far as we are in
formed. must be significant In this
connection. No until the abb
origine has become a part of civil
lied life daoes the element offocal
infection become Of any Importance.
and not until then does he, as a
rule. become a victim Of cancer.
1T Is not n stretch Of speculative
thought to assume n specific effect
forthe irritating principles in focal
infection. thereof accorntiny for
cancer in different parts OF the body
for the diseasec in children. and for
all exceptional circumstances Of
malignancy.
Neithed Is tia transgressicn Of
scientific thought to assume that
the effects of focal infection upon
the endocrineS might ne that Of the
Illuminating cap In the discharge
Of powder. Powder is a combination
Of very inactive clements. as a
matter CT fart. a chemical COM
bination which stays fixed and Is
pedfectly harmless until something
happens to start its elements on the
rampage. Once starter no reason
able physical agency known to man
will confine them. The cells or the
body unded normal condition de-
velop in an orderly mannef. and
do no harm. In lancer we see them
run wild. and We find that they
can be controlled cllv as exploding
powder is controlled. by giving them
an outlet jim other words. bv ex-
cising them or destroying all tissue
around about them.
There Is much ct to be learned
Of the chemistry of the animal
BODY. particularly that of the hu-
man animal. Bioic lists ard chem
lists are combining their efforts in
this particular.
Not many physicians who must
follow their profession as q vocation
and live upon the proceeds Of prac-
tice. may do a great deal in the
field OF original scientific research.
but 1t must be borne in mind that
many of the great discoveries not
only In medicine but i'm other
sciences useful to man. have been
made by busy mn. men who found
II ncssary to make their livelihood
IN other ridections than those of
Retrospective discoveries. A cen
tribution to mans knowledge OF
malignant diseases would be an
accomplishment OF which any
physician might well be proud, 1t
Is to be hoped that there may be
those Of U number who will give
this problef thought. not alone
along the lines Of my humble sug-
gestion. but in all other partic-
ulars.
The field OF focal infection IS 50
broad that our program could in
any instance be an outline only.
II Is hoped that this meeting will
be an incentive to the profession
for more detailed study of the
disease pictures which focal in
lection produces. The saolution re-
quires careful histories. painstaking
observations. and consultations be-
tween specialists in all lines. includ-
ing dentists, pathologists and roen-
tgenologists.
To the end that we may enlaree
u general knowledge of this puz-
cling disorder. and that our pro-
feSsion may advance toward that
goal Of usefulness that was visual
lied BY our first President, DR..
Cupples, this meeting is dedicated.
REYNOLDS SCORES