Z THE TONER LECTURES. 



I propose then, first, to sketch as briefly as possible the 

 modern i^rogress of our knowledge of the minute anatomy of 

 cancerous growths, and to indicate some of the most impor- 

 tant points as to which conflicting views still exist ; I shall 

 next select a few typical specimens from the microscopical col- 

 lection of the Army Medical Museum, and endeavor to show, 

 with all modesty, how far the structural details they exhibit 

 correspond with the results obtained by European histologists ; 

 where diflferences are to be noticed I shall not hesitate to point 

 them out, and I hope to be able to present several significant 

 matters of detail which have either been entirel}'^ overlooked or 

 not described with the accuracy they deserve. 



In illustration of my remarks I shall project upon the screen 

 with an ordinary oxy-calcium lantern some seventy photo-mi- 

 crographs of the preparations selected for study, by which I 

 hope to render my descriptions more intelligible. The original 

 negatives, most of which I made expressly for this lecture, 

 were taken with various powers from twent3^-six to one thou- 

 sand diameters. The lantern slides, for the sake of sharpness, 

 are reduced to half the number of diameters in each case, and 

 will be projected upon the screen with a magnifying power of 

 fifty diameters. 



At the very outset I must bespeak your patience, for though 

 I shall only attempt to touch upon the salient points of my 

 theme, and shall always endeavor to be as brief as is consis- 

 tent with clearness, I fear I shall detain you beyond the usual 

 pei'iod of time allotted to a scientific lecture. 



My friend, Dr. Toner, the founder of these lectures, on 

 learning the subject I had selected, expressed the hope that I 

 might be able to contribute something which would aid the gen- 

 eral practitioner in the diagnosis of cancerous from other morbid 

 growths, and he justly remarked that the present uncertain 

 condition of the question of diagnosis greatly facilitated the 

 operations of charlatans by enabling them to report cures of 



