Rcvieiv of Reviews, 1/3/13 



LEADING ARTICLES. 



52, 



THE WAR AGAINST DISEASE. 



CANCER UNDER THE LENS. 



The most striking article in the maga- 

 zines this month is undoubtedly one by 

 Barton J. Hendrick in McCliire's. The 

 article is entitled " On the Trail of Im- 

 mortality," and gives a thrilling account 

 •of the discoveries of Dr. Alexis Carrel, 

 who has received the Nobel Prize in re- 

 cognition of his painstaking experi- 

 ments. 



Earlier research had revealed the fact 

 that animal tissue taken from its parent 

 organism can be kept in a state of sus- 

 pended animation, and, following on 

 this, Dr. Ross T. Harrison demonstrated 

 that animal tissue could be grown out- 

 side the body. Dr. Carrel has carried 

 this suggestion to the point of inducing 

 growth in sections of almost every 

 organ. The writer records the rapid 

 progress of the experiments: — 



In a short time Dr. Carrel had practically all 

 parts of the body growing independently on 

 microscopic slides. He was able to observe that 

 marvellous phenomenon which is constantly tak- 

 ing place in the human body and without which 

 life itself would be impossible — the birth and 

 growth of body cells. Protoplasm, so to speak, 

 ■was here caught upon the fly. On one slide a 

 piece of bone was manufacturing new bone; on 

 another, cartilage was rapidly producing new car- 

 tilage; a section of the liver was giving birth to 

 new liver tissue; kidney was growing kidney; 

 and a small piece of heart was manufacturing 

 new heart. From a theoretical standpoint, at 

 least, it might almost be said that the experi- 

 menter was constructing an artificial body in 

 minute sections; at least, he was growing in the 

 laboratory all the tissues whicli are essential to 

 the animal organism. 



In was but a step to apply this won- 

 derful discovery to a close examination 

 of the conditions of diseased cells : — • 



The new cells would start precipitately from 

 the main tissue; they would become spherical in 

 shape, then ovaJ, and then oblong. One end 

 would shoot out, like a microscopic comet, and 

 form a tail; just as quickly, this tail would 

 separate itself from the main body, and perhaps 

 ultimately give birth to new cells of its own. 



A careful watch, throughout several weeks, de- 

 monstrated several points which may have a 

 markefl bearing upon the cancer problem. In the 

 main, cancer tissue, when placed in this artificial 

 medium, grows much more rapidly than in a nor- 

 mal environment. It started more quickly, ami. 

 one© started, grew faster. Normal tissue began 

 growing in from twelve to forty-eight hours after 

 transplantation; cancerous tissue, in most cases. 



was revivified within a c/iuple of hours. D^es 

 this indicate that there may be substance that 

 stimulates growth in the cancer cell— perhaps a 

 parasite or a microbe— which, when discovered, 

 will yield the secret of the disease? 



Dr. Carrel has pursued his studies for 

 six years, and it would be difficult to 

 exaggerate their importance or to sug- 

 gest a limit to the advantages which this 

 added knowledge must secure in the 

 future usefulnesses of the medical pro- 

 fession. 



DISEASE AFLOAT. 



To the Journal of the Royal United 

 Service Institution, Fleet-Surgeon C. 

 Marsh Beadnell contributes a paper 

 packed with facts regarding the accom- 

 modation, clothing, food, work, recrea- 

 tion, and sanitation of all those who 

 go down to the sea in ships. There is 

 no occupation so fraught with mono- 

 tonous routine, yet withal so teeming 

 with variety, as that of the average 

 sailor. 



Jack's rum and tobacco come in for 

 mild condemnation: — • 



Speaking purely as a doctor — and I think the 

 majority of medical men will agree with me — I 

 should like to see the ration of rum served out 

 in the evening hours, after the day's work is 

 over, rather than in the middle of the day. The 

 Service tobacco is notoriously good, but noto- 

 riously strong, and we cannot hoodwink the fact 

 that a certain amount of defective vision in the 

 Navy is due to excessive smoking and chewing of 

 strong tobacco, aided and augmented no doubt 

 by cheap cigarettes. Eyes demand special care 

 in the Navy, since the visual acutcness of guns' 

 crews may have a considerable influence in deter- 

 mining the results of a ba.ttle. ■ 



Hammocks are responsible it would 

 appear, for decreasing the stature of our 

 seanien : — 



Vertical growth in the seaman class ceases 

 abruptly about the age of 19, although horizontal 

 growth and increase in weight continue until the 

 age of 25. I attribute tliis cessation of vertical 

 growth and <«ntinu;ince of lateral growth to the 

 custom of sleeping in hiimmocks at that early 

 period of life when growth should be most active. 

 The position of the sleeper is such that the long 

 ;ixis of his body forms a curve lying in a vertical 

 plane. heiu:e the l)ones of the lower extremities 

 and vertebral column are in a constant though 

 slight condition of lonoitudinal compression, 

 vvliich prevents in the parts compressed that free 



