Miscellaneous Pwpers. 379 



and between the two extremes there are many grades. It may be 

 said that in this warfare the normal cells are going wrong. This 

 cell growth, as I have stated, is usually rapid and soon produces 

 pressure upon the nerve or nerves, which in time will excite pain. 

 Soon after this stage is reached comes the breaking down of cell- 

 tissue. This condition continues until the parts are destroyed or 

 death from hemorrhage results. Not infrequently these cells 

 break loose from their moorings and are carried with the blood 

 current, the leucocytes being unable to resist or destroy them, when 

 at last they settle down in a new held, there to grow and multiply, 

 sending their branches in every direction. The lymphatic glands 

 sooner or later show infection, then the vital organs — stomach, 

 lungs and liver, until all adjacent tissue has been fully impregnated 

 with the virus. 



The frequency of cancer excludes the idea that all cases are 

 hereditary; further, we do not hesitate to say that it has been 

 demonstrated by incontrovertible facts that the disease is conta- 

 gious and infectious: (1 ) We believe that cancer is not influenced 

 by climate, rainfall or elevation; (2) the various articles of food 

 when taken have no bearing; (3) neither malaria nor tuberculosis 

 change the per cent, of death; (4) a greater susceptibility exists 

 in certain races, especially the Teutonic and Scandinavian. 



We must next consider the question of environment and habits 

 of the people. Do they play an important part in the production 

 of cancer ? 



People in the European countries, who consume the greatest 

 amount of beer, produce the greater rate per cent, of deaths. 

 Doctor Arnauldt found, upon one street in Normandy, seventeen 

 houses which gave twenty-one cases of cancer. In his opinion 

 they were the result of contagion and infection. The people of 

 America furnish a very large mortality rate among cancer nurses. 



We have a class who claim that the origin of cancer is a low state 

 of cell activity. If a wound or blow is received by such individual 

 it would be sufficient to produce cancer development, as the cells 

 are too weak to heal ; that with age comes a loss of vital forces and 

 cell vitality. This condition may be assisted by sedentariness, 

 overwork, mental anxiety, impure air, want of sleep and rest or a 

 lack of outdoor exercise. The body must be kept in a healthy con- 

 dition, good assimilation and metabolism, good full respiration and 

 oxygenation, with the elimination of waste products. 



We have touched upon the points suggested by the two rival 

 schools ; let us now consider the ideas that seem to prevail at the 



