CHAPTER LXII 



THE MICROBE OF CANCER 



THIS germ has been isolated, taken alone from 

 the cancer, and cultivated artificially. By in- 

 oculating lower animals with the cultivated germ, 

 the cancer has been produced in them. Evidently, 

 therefore, this particular germ produces the cancer 

 in the human subject. 



Different varieties of the cancer may be owing 

 to different varieties of the germ. In its every 

 variety, the microbe propagates itself by the pro- 

 duction of spores. In its mature form the germ 

 is a minute cylinder. 



In propagating, the internal contents of the 

 cylinder are converted into minute round balls. 

 These are spores. Each one is ready to grow into 

 the mature microbe and propagate again. 



The three stages of propagation are shown in 

 Fig. 100. First, the little spheres. Second, the 

 spheres grown into little oblong rods. Third, the 

 rods grown into minute cylinders. 



In every cancer this process of multiplication is 

 going on continually. By its action the natural 

 cells and tissues are broken down, destroyed; and 

 in their place new and abnormal cells and tissue 

 are formed, producing the growth of the tumor. 



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