238 LIFE: ITS NATURE AND ORIGIN 



the greater is the chance that one of the cancer-producing mechan- 

 isms may become effective. The view that cancers, basically, in- 

 volve heritable changes in biocatalysts, has been fruitful in the 

 case of prostatic cancer, and it may be helpful in finding preventive 

 means for certain types. However, the problem is as wide as 

 biological science and is progressing toward solution by work in 

 many scientific fields, which should be encouraged. Help, and 

 even cures for some cases, may come from unexpected sources. 

 Meanwhile, surgery and other competent medical treatment are 

 doinsr much. The far-sighted directors of research funds realize 

 the importance of flank attacks on the cancer problem, and it is to 

 be hoped that any legislative funds will not be limited to a direct 

 frontal attack. Research is to be judged by results, rather than by 

 the amounts of money given or spent; but it often takes time 

 before the facts developed by research can be understood and 

 applied. 



Drugs 



The Chinese Emperor Shen Nung (2838-2798 B.C.) is credited 

 with having written the first Pen T'sao (Native Herbs), the three 

 volumes describing 365 drugs. Modern editions of the Chinese 

 pharmacopeia are much more extensive. In the reign of Djoser 

 (Zoser), first Pharaoh of the Third Dynasty of the old Kingdom, 

 who ruled from 2780 to 2760 B.C., the great architect and engineer 

 Imhotep did much to advance the healing art. In fact, the ver- 

 satile Imhotep, the Leonardo da Vinci of his time, became a 

 legendary figure and was deified as the God of Medicine, a posi- 

 tion later given by the Greeks to Aesculapius. Faith in the 

 physician no doubt was an important factor, and it still is; but 

 real knowledge regarding drugs grew then as it does now — by 

 observing and recording results. Our more intensive, intelligent, 

 and coordinated experimentation is termed research. However, 

 even the most primitive peoples have contributed to the modern 

 pharmacopeia: South America contributed quinine; North 

 America, cascara sagrada; ancient China, stramonium, chaul- 

 moogra oil, and ephedrine (ma huang). The African pygmies 

 are said to pursue a huge elephant for days, peppering his hide 

 with tiny arrows dipped in strophanthus, until this potent heart- 

 poison brings him crashing to earth. 



In more modern times, active chemical substances have been 

 isolated from many natural drugs, such as, morphine, atropine, 



