16 
that only an expert could distinguish the first two. A secondary 
growth of the disease may occur in another part of the body by 
a process of natural transplantation from the primary, and such 
secondary growth appears to be actually encouraged by the presence 
of the primary. Experiments now being made appear almost 
certainly a secondary development. The treatment consists in 
the inoculation of an emulsion of the skin of an individaul of the 
same species. After such an inoculation the cancer cells of the 
incipient growth are unable to find the scaffolding of supporting 
tissues and blood vessels they need and they appear to be destroyed 
ultimately by a process allied to the phagocytosis of Metchnikoff. 
The lecturer was anxious, however, to disclaim that any treatment 
had yet been established, as the investigations had not been con- 
cluded. Contrary to what had hitherto been believed possible, 
the natural cure of cancer had been found to occur. It had been 
shown also that the surgeon’s knife does not cause a greater malig- 
nancy in any subsequent growth. Up to the present the greatest 
relief and the most certain cure is to be obtained by surgery. 
In reply to questions asked by members after the lecture, Dr. 
Bashford said that there was no sufficient evidence of the inheritance 
of cancer or of any influence of locality on its incidence. Infection 
from person to person was almost an impossibility, and might 
safely be disregarded. He also said that the announcement made 
by Farmer, Moore, and Walker that cancer cells showed a simi- 
larity with reproductive tissue in containing half the usual number 
of chromosomes, showing also the peculiar forms of ripening sexual 
cells, had not been confirmed by the investigations of the Imperial 
Cancer Research. 
Friday, May 8th. Mr. F. W. Rudler, 1.S.0., F.G.S., in the chair. 
Mr. W. Whitaker, B.A., F.R.S., late of the Geological 
Survey, gave a lecture entitled ‘‘Geology and Photography.”’ 
With the aid of a series of slides he discoursed on many of the 
interesting features of the geology of the South-East of England. 
He gave special prominence to the Sandgate Landslip of 1893, 
showing the causes that led to its occurrence and, bya set of photo- 
graphs, its striking effects upon the buildings and the surface of — 
the ground. The landslip was confined to that portion of the cliff 
which was under private ownership, the War Office property under — 
precisely similar geological conditions not suffering from the 
catastrophe. This was due to the fact that, under sound expert 
advice, the War Office authorities had drained their property. 
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