Year: 1873

The Archires of Medicine for February, edited
by DR.. BRowN-SEQUARD, contains an article on the
"Cancerous Dathesis," by DR.. VIM. B. Neftel, which
offers some suggestions that in many cases may prove OF
great practical Importance. The writer has come 10 the
conclusion from the experience OF many years III hOs


tails and private practice that cancerous tumors are o
local origin and not the result Of constitutional tenden
ees In accordance with this theory it is found that
the organs which are primarily affected by cancers arc
those exposed to constant mechanical and chemical lr


tatons as the lips tongue throat, breast stomach ana
the like In exceptional cases, primary cancer may
occur in internal organs, but exact investigation


shows that it has been preceded by some local rrita
tive process The most malignant forms have been de-
veoped in perfectly healthy persons without the least
hereditary disposition in organ that had previously
received mechanical ininry. primary cancer may
remain localized for longer or shorter ume accord


ing to its connection with other structures but III the ehd
il spreads through the ymphacs and blood vessels and
this affects various and distant organs 1t would SEEM
however, that the theory OF local origin were correct
a cure could always be accomplished by the extirpation
of the tumor But daily experience teaches just the re-
verse; The rule is that such an operation Is followed by


relapse and the diffusion Of the disease throughout the
system this discrepancy between theory and practice
is easily explained. On making microscopic examina


ton OF the surrounding apparently healthy tissues after
the excison OF malignant tumUr. invariably find
symptoms of the eancerOus degeneration There Is no
actual relapse, but uninterrupted growth OF the
morbid structure The only difference is that before the
operation the morbid process was slow and chronic,
while afterward it takes more acute course, In conse-
quence OF which the fatal termination is accelerated
The remaining cancerces would appear TO have been
stimulated by active interference to increased activity
There is but means, in the opinion OF
DR.. Neftel, by which this result can
be avoided. This is the eecroytic treatment
As long as cancer remains in the stage Of local afec
ton it can be cured by eecroyss But when deposits
have once begun be made in the internal organs the
disease is ncuTable although even then much can be
done by the electric treatment TO mitigate pain and
improve the general condition OF the patient Under
these circumstances the question OF cancerOus deposits
in the internal organs assumes new aspect Formerly
when the disease considered Of constitutional origin
IL had merely theoretical interest The existence OF
internal deposits was judged mainly by the external
appearance the patients This b not entirely correct
The majority Of patients who have come under the OBJ
servaton Of the writer did not exhibit general morbid
symptoms during the earlier stages Of the disease but
they were developed only towards the close The article
concludes with directions concerning the diagnosis
of the disease after internal deposits supposed TO
have taken place. but these of strictly professional
interest, and do not concern the general reader.