MATERIO-DYNAMIC PARALLELISM 479 



of growth and the vital forces involved at such junc- 

 tures being one and the same, plus the addition of the 

 modifying and determining morbid causes, or influences, 

 be they chemical, bacterial, or dynamic and vital, or other. 

 On analysing these statements for the detection of the 

 underlying and pervading principle or condition, deter- 

 mining the inception of the pathological regime, we are 

 obliged to acknowledge that we can see no other than 

 that of the occurrence of materio-dynamic non-parallelism, 

 or non-synchronicity between the removal of structure 

 and the lapse of function, or the survival of non- 

 or insufficiently vitalised tissue materials, whose functional 

 role has been abolished, and whose removal has not been 

 physiologically effected. 



The physiological necessity for the removal of func- 

 tionless tissues and organs is constantly occurring 

 throughout the lifetime of the individual from the 

 earliest embryonic state until the lapse of three score 

 years and ten, or later ; and if constantly recognised by 

 nature, and, it may be, aided by art and rigidly effected, 

 nothing else, so far as this aspect of the occurrences which 

 shorten life is concerned, can hinder the attainment of 

 its "allotted span." In explanation, therefore, of the 

 reported increased prevalence of cancer in late times, we 

 would advance the opinion that our failure to recognise 

 the truth of this contention, and to adopt means for its 

 prevention, or neutralisation, has allowed to occur just 

 those circumstances which encourage its origin and per- 

 petuation, and which, if not attended to in the future, 

 must of necessity still farther add to the price that is paid 

 for modern civilisation, with its increased labour-saving 

 inventions, artificial arrest of muscular effort, and over- 

 indulgence in luxury. Moreover, we are of opinion that 

 the adoption of measures of a preventive character, based 

 on the indications deducible from these views, and used 

 to supplement and perfect the physiological working of 

 the natural organic agencies of internal hygiene, will do 

 much to counteract and neutralise these predisposing 

 influences and circumstances in their immediate and 

 remote effects, and to that extent widen the boundaries 

 of preventive medicine generally. 



