418 PROTEIN POISONS 



the theoretical portion logical, and we have previously 

 advanced the following theory as to the etiology of malig- 

 nant disease with the foregoing in view. 



Every living cell has within itself a constructive ferment 

 whose specific action is to construct proteins of the same 

 specific composition as the cell itself. Through the aid of 

 this ferment a sufficient amount of cell protein is formed 

 so that one cell may form two daughter cells and these in 

 turn may again do likewise. As an example of this may be 

 cited the growing of the typhoid bacillus upon an agar slant. 

 In the original few organisms, which are spread upon the 

 media, is contained a ferment which is capable of constructing 

 the specific typhoid protein as long as sufficient required 

 chemical substances are present in the agar medium. In 

 the case of a unicellular organism like this the property of 

 cell division and multiplication must be inherent in the 

 cell, and the process of cellular reproduction progresses as 

 long as suitable media are furnished. When, however, we 

 come to consider more complex organisms, where the 

 functions and relations of one cell are dependant upon 

 outside cells, we have a somewhat different and more com- 

 plex problem to consider. Such cells cannot continue to 

 multiply without limit, else the cell that reproduced the 

 fastest would soon predominate and outstrip all others. 

 Here the growth of cells must be governed by outside 

 circumstances to some extent, although it would appear 

 reasonable to suppose that the property of reproduction is 

 inherent in the cell as well as in the case of the simple 

 unicellular organisms. This property, however, must lie 

 dormant at times, only to be aroused by outside stimuli. 

 A more lucid and concise way of expressing this idea would 

 be to state that the reproductive ferment was normally 

 stored up within the cell as a zymogen or inactive ferment, 

 which becomes active when called upon by outside stimuli. 

 Even in the unicellular organisms it is a well-known fact 

 that cell division can be hastened or retarded by outside 

 conditions, such as heat and cold or various chemical or 

 electrical stimuli. With regard to the bearing of the fore- 



