The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-11-24

NlAyt anu NANll oillg bAIOuku
his column.
IL from all the various kinds Of
Jumps and tumors that occur in
the body. The ones that are really
true cancer were separated from
the benign tumors by studying
the tissue under the microscope
and classifying each form of be-
niEn and malignant tumor accord
ing 70 the predominant cell which
composed it.
Forms Of Treatment
This first period is practically
closed now, We know about all
there is 70 be known about the
structure Of different tumors and
growths and their habits. From
the standpoint of treatment we
know which ones had better be
treated surgically, which by the
X-ray, and we know about what
results can be expected from these
methods, depending upon the ma
ture Of the growth and at how
early period it is attacked.
Studying Causes
The second period was devoted
10 trying to find out the cause of
cancer. lnnumerable futile at
tempts were made to try to prove
that 1t was caused by a germ.
think it is fair TO say that all of
these attempts resulted in failure:
no germ has ever been found TO
be responsible for any kind of
cancer. Another approach was
that of heredity, which was large
ly through animal experiments.
While it indicates that there is 3
a definite hereditary factor in the
cause Of cancer, all the researches
must be taken with some mental
reservations.
The third period is one in which
we are just entering. 1t may be
called an attempt to find out the
habits of the cancer cell-what II
feeds on. what poison it excretes,
what starves it and what stimu-
lates it. | have just been looking
over the reports of a number of
researches in this field and it
seems TO me they carry great
promise for future development.
In one type of cancer which &C.
ours in the liver of a rat it has
been proved that it grows only
when the diet is inadequate, and
can be prevented or delayed by
the administration Of dietary sup
PIGMENTS. In fact, by manipulate
ing the diet-particulary the vita
min supplements - these cancers
can be made to grow or stop grow
ing, TO resume growth again, and
again almost to disappear.
Experimentation
Another study has shown that
in certain types of cancer, even
including human cancer, the adj
ministration Of various hormones
will cause an acceleration of
growth or a repression Of the
growth of the tumor. These f1uc-
tuations can be measured by
measuring certain elements in the
chemistry of the blood.
II is possible to prod ce a strain
Of mice of which 100 per cent Of
the females will have cancer of
the breast. 1t is also possible to
produce a strain in which no in
dividual ever dies of cancer of the
breast. Now taking litters of mice
doomed 10 have cancer Of the
breast and putting them to nurse
off a mother from a non-cancerous
strain, the very fact that they get
this non-cancerous milk will re-
duce the percentage of breast
cancer from 80 to so per cent.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Mrs. r. B.: Why is it that |
cannot ride on a bus for even a
short distance without becoming
nauseated? Passenger cars do not
have any effect on me.
Answer: Undoubtedly this is an
inner ear condition due TO a dis
turbance Of the sense of equili-
brium, which is related to seasick-
ness and car sickness. People vary
in their response to these effects.
know a number Of people who
never get seasick, but always get
car sick. There is very little that
| have to suggest in the way Of
treatment except possibly to have
an ear specialist examine you for
any chronic middle ear condition
and perhaps insufflate the Eusta-
chan tubes.
with ever since we got into the
war
II isn't cxactlv an opposition.