SCIENCE IN MEDICINE 255 



cancer is proceeding along two main lines. First we have the 

 grafting experiments of Ehrlich, secondly the investigation 

 along bacteriological lines. 



As regards Ehrlich's work, one point of importance as 

 regards treatment is the fact that he has succeeded in immu- 

 nising mice against virulent tumours by^previously inoculating 

 them with less virulent ones. He has thus shown that a high 

 degree of immunity against cancers may be achieved by the 

 inoculation of tumours. 



With regard to the bacterial research, the work of Doyen 

 seems to promise something of practical utility. This observer 

 has recovered a micro-organism, which he has called the 

 Micrococcus neoformans^ from a very large percentage of 

 tumours. An attempt was made to furnish an anti-serum for 

 this bacterium, but without success. In fact, it would appear 

 likely, from some results published, that this serum possessed 

 in some cases definite toxic properties. As has been shown 

 in a previous paragraph, such haphazard preparations are always 

 likely to fail. Karwacki, continuing along the same lines of 

 research, confirmed the presence of this micro-organism, and 

 contends, from the fact that the blood of cancer patients has 

 a characteristic agglutinating action upon the bacterium, that 

 it plays an important part in connection with the disease. 



Jacob and Geets, pursuing the same subject but using 

 Wright's method, examined the blood of a number of cancer 

 patients as regards its opsonic power to the M. neoformans, 

 and it was found to be low. Further, when these patients 

 were inoculated with a "neoformans vaccine" the opsonic power 

 of the blood was raised considerably above the normal. As 

 regards results it is as yet too early to say anything definite. 

 It is not intended to convey the idea that this work even 

 suggests a microbic origin of cancer, but the frequency with 

 which the M. neoformans has been recovered from tumours, 

 and the behaviour of the blood in relation to it, are indications 

 that this coccus plays a not unimportant part in the life-history 

 of cancers. 



These few notes on cancer will serve to indicate that 

 interesting and important work is being done in connection 

 with this disease, that it is being approached from the scientific 

 side, and good results may be expected. 



Difficulties of Inoculation. — It will be gathered from what 



