VEGETABLE PROTEIN IN CANCER TREATMENT 251 



SECTION VII. 



VEGETABLE PROTEINS IN CANCER TREATMENT 



It seems perfectly clear, and even obvious now, in the light of 

 later experience, that the above interpretation is valid. But at 

 the time when it was made, the interpretation was fortified by my 

 own belief in the Proteomorphic theory rather than by demonstra- 

 tive evidence. I was presently able, however, to bring forward 

 substantive evidence of more tangible character through de- 

 velopment of a new series of antigens of known composition, 

 made for the express purpose of testing the assumption that the 

 observed action of the original extract above referred to was 

 essentially due to its protein content. An analytical laboratory 

 investigation had been made in which it was shown that each of 

 the twelve constituents contributed a fractional quantity of pro- 

 tein to the extract ; but that the major part of the protein came 

 from the mustard seed, as might be expected. 



It was at first contemplated to make clinical observations with 

 each of the individual proteins, to determine whether any one of 

 them or any particular combination of them had exceptional value 

 in stimulating a characteristic physiological response of the or- 

 ganism. But since this, obviously, would involve an enormous 

 expenditure of time and labor, it was thought that a short-cut 

 might be effected by making the provisional assumption that any 

 foreign protein of non-toxic character might produce an effective 

 enzymic response. Theoretically, in the light of the Proteomor- 

 phic theory, it should be so. I determined to find out whether 

 it was so in practice. 



A large variety of vegetable substances were used as the source 

 of new extracts, among others alfalfa seed, alfalfa meal, hemp 

 seed, and rape seed, and, later, clover seed, cotton seed, timothy 

 seed and various others, and sundry foodstuffs. 



The practical stimulus to the development of the new proteins 

 was the fact that in a large number of cases patients suffering 

 from inoperable cancer who had responded strikingly to the treat- 

 ment with the original combination of vegetable proteins came 

 finally to a seemingly static period, at which they snowed notable 

 improvement over their previous condition, yet now seemed no 

 longer to respond actively to the stimulus of the remedy. Seem- 

 ingly they were immunized against further enzymic response to 

 the particular proteins in question. But there seemed to be at 

 least a possibility that they might take on fresh response if new 

 proteins were administered. 



This expectation was justified in a considerable number of cases 

 to which the new proteins have been administered, singly or in 



