242 THE PROTEAL TREATMENT OF CANCER 



abdominal ascitic fluid from a tumor, and from carcinoma in 

 the mouse. 



Furthermore "Gwyer next examined several of the reported 

 curative agents for cancer and found 'X' substance in all those 

 mentioned, namely (1) Ascitic fluid from a case of stationary 

 carcinoma in the human; (2) calf thymus; (3) sheep thyroid; 

 (4) rat carcinoma tissues prepared after Vaughn's method; 

 and (5) rat carcinoma tissues prepared after the method of Coca 

 and Gilman." 



Still another table is published which shows "the interesting 

 fact that immune animals contain more of this 'X' substance than 

 non-immune." It appears from this table that the quantitative 

 differences in question are very slight, the range of variation 

 being given as .011 1/10 to .014% grms. per gram of dried body 

 weight; and we are given no analysis of methods to assure us 

 that these variations do not lie within the limits of experimental 

 errors. The figures serve, nevertheless, to show that Gwyer's 

 tests were apparently not applied for the detection of the full- 

 sized .protein molecule as such, but to some derivative product. 

 The fact stands out, however, and from the present standpoint 

 is all-essential, that all the experiments in question deal with 

 tissues or substances rich in- proteins. This of course does not 

 by itself establish proteins, as such, as -the active agents in the 

 remedial process ; but it does raise a strong presumption taken 

 in connection with the mass of new evidence presented in the 

 present book that either the protein molecule or one of its 

 derivative products in the form of proteoses, peptones, or poly- 

 peptids is the active principle involved. There seems no present 

 need of invoking an "X" substance. 



Unfortunately, however, this mysterious substance was invoked, 

 and hence the physicians who administered the treatment were, 

 in their own estimation, performing what was in effect a mysteri- 

 ous rite. If we appluad the freedom from prejudice altogether 

 unusual in men of their position that permitted them to employ 

 what they regarded as a secret agent, of unknown method of prep- 

 aration, in the treatment of a human malady, we must at the 

 same time deprecate their unfortunate thraldom to superstition 

 in focalizing ^attention on the supposed mysterious agent, when 

 there was every warrant for a simple scientific deduction to the 

 effect that they were really dealing with agents familiar to every 

 physiological chemist. 



Be that as it may, 'however, the mistake was made, and so 

 it unfortunately resulted that, notwithstanding the very interest- 

 ing and, properly interpreted, important results achieved, nothing 

 of permanency or real significance came of the investigation. It 

 being seen that the magical "X" substance did not ultimately act 



