230 Influence of Cancer Extracts on Lupin Seedlings [Jan. 



Müller'' claimed, from the results of a study of nitrogenous metabo- 

 lism in Cancer patients, that in cachexia of Cancer there is toxogenic 

 destruction of protoplasm independent of nutrition; i. e., a specific 

 toxic efifect of cancerous tissue. Müller's results have been con- 

 firmed by other workers'^ but cumulative research has shown that 

 the cases with normal protein catabolism exceed in number those 

 with increased protein catabolism.^ 



According to the prevailing opinion Cancer cachexia is not spe- 

 cific, but is the same as the cachexia of other conditions. It has 

 been impossible to show the occurrence in Cancer tissue of any sub- 

 stance that would account for the cachexia of this disease.^ 



In the study described below, we ascertained some of the effects 

 of extracts of cancer tissue on the growth of lupin seedlings, in the 

 hope that this procedure for the detection of toxic substances might 

 yield significant results. 



Experimental. Preparation of lupin seedlings. Lupin seeds 

 were soaked in water overnight. Seeds of the same size were then 

 selected and planted in wet moss. After three or four days the 

 seedlings were taken from the moss, the coat of each removed, and 

 the sprout rinsed with distilled water. The root was carefully 

 measured on a millimeter scale. The seedlings were then fastened 

 on glass rods drawn out at one end to form a sharp pointed L and 

 suspended in perforated cork covers over 400 c.c. Jena beakers, each 

 containing 200 c.c. of water and 5 c.c. of boiled or unboiled cancer 

 extract prepared as described below. " Control " seedlings were 

 suspended in distilled water. The glass rods were so adjusted that 

 the roots were immersed in the liquid but the cotyledons were not 

 in contact with it. Four seedlings were suspended in each beaker. 

 At intervals of 20 hours all the seedling roots were measured.^^ 



' Müller : Zeit. f. klin. Med., 1889, xvi, p, 496. 



'' Char. Annal, 1891, xvi, p. 138; Arch. prov. de Med., 1899, March; Arch. f. 

 Verdauungskr., 1899, v, p. 540; Riv. ven. d. sei. Med., 1899, xvi, p. 31; Zeit, f 

 klin. Med., 1897, xxxiii, p. 385. 



^ Zeit. f. Krebsforsch., 1904, i, p. 199: Salkowski Festschrift, Berlin, 1904, 

 P- 75; Fifth Ann. Rep't Cancer Lab., New York State Dep't of Health, 1903- 

 1904. 



' Blumenthal : Salkowski Festschrift, Berlin, 1904. 



^"True and Gies : Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, 1903, xxx, p. 390; 

 Rose: Biochemical Bulletin, 191 i, i, p. 428. 



