THE PREVENTION AND CURE OF CANCER 301 



formed physicians. Perhaps this is not surprising, considering 

 that the available authorities differ so widely in their estimate of 

 the nature of cancer. The fact that Metchnikoff advocated the 

 theory of the germ origin of cancer no doubt has "had great 

 weight ; and doubtless there are physicians who, in accepting this 

 view, and having also in mind the conceivability of destroying 

 disease germs at a single dose, or at the most with two or three 

 doses, as was at first expected of Salvarsan, have thought that 

 the Proteals might act in similar manner. Their expectations seem 

 to be justified when the administration of two or three doses pro- 

 duces very striking modification in symptoms, including change 

 in the character of the discharge, and a softening and tendency 

 to regress in the neoplasm itself. 



Even were cancer a germ disease (which I altogether disbe- 

 lieve), and were it therefore possible to conceive a treatment that 

 would eradicate the cause of the disease at a single coup, by the 

 slaughter of bacteria, there would still remain the neoplasm itself, 

 a proteid mass, to deal with. To expect that medication of any 

 character would lead to the dissolution of the mass, when it is a 

 large one, without profound systematic disturbance would be to 

 misconceive the nature of the essential physiological conditions. 

 It is neither to be expected nor desired that the protein matter 

 making up the cancer should be hydrolyzed all at once, nor even 

 with great rapidity. Were the enzymic attack on the cancer cells 

 too active, the blood must become charged with the products of 

 protein decompounding, and a tax would be put upon the cerebral 

 tissues and the organs of elimination that they might not be able 

 to withstand. 



It follows that the carrying of a case of cancer under the pro- 

 teal treatment to a favorable issue, even in the least complicated 

 cases, is a matter demanding full measure of professional skill. 

 I recall once hearing a somewhat distinguished artist say that any- 

 one can begin the painting of a picture, but that it takes an artist 

 to finish it. Similarly it may be said that any one can begin the 

 proteal treatment of a case of cancer. Whoever can administer 

 a hypodermic with ordinary aseptic precautions can secure defi- 

 nite results that are conspicuous and even notable in a great ma- 

 jority of cases. But to carry the case forward so that the effects 

 are cumulative, and ultimately to secure the largest measure of 

 benefit possible, requires skill of a high order. 



If the best possible results are to be attained, it will be neces- 

 sary not only to administer the treatment with constant observa- 

 tion of results as a guide to dosage and frequency of administra- 

 tion and the shifting from one proteal to another ; but also to in- 

 voke, in many cases, the aid of supplementary measures. 



First and foremost among these supplementary measures, is 



