MALIGNANCY 45 



lately by Russ and his colleagues with regard to lympho- 

 cytosis, leucopenia, and immunity. They add immensely 

 to the value of their work by pointing out that a large 

 lymphocyte count is not by itself sufficient to procure or 

 preserve immunity. If the general connective tissue and 

 its catalysts are not active this is to be expected. These 

 catalysts, immune bodies, or anti-bodies, are almost 

 certainly connective-tissue cell products. Russ, indeed, 

 says there is some as yet undetermined relationship between 

 the number of lymphocytes and the occurrence of immunity. 

 But if cancer actually depends on the weakening of con- 

 nective-tissue cells of all kinds, the relationship's no longer 

 undetermined. We have a real explanation why large 

 doses of X-rays, which are more or less fatal to lymphocytes, 

 destroy immunity, and we get a clue to the reason for 

 small or stimulating doses conferring it on susceptible 

 animals. Hernaman-Johnson states definitely that clinical 

 observation and microscopic research show that carcinoma 

 is favourably influenced as the result of this dual action. 

 Mathematically speaking, the good influence of small doses 

 acts as a "couple," the peccant tissue is inhibited, and 

 the limiting or resisting tissue is stimulated to activity. 

 With such phenomena before us there is no need to posit 

 some unknown cause. In all explanation it is illicit to 

 import the unknown when the known can be made to 

 account for the facts. If radium and X-rays, according 

 to their dosage and application, can cause different effects 

 in both tissues, and by restoring or impairing them produce 

 amelioration or further destruction, the case for infection 

 falls to the ground. It iS also said by Knox that the 

 curative effect of radium depends in many cases on the 

 Becquerel rays stimulating the connective tissue and pro- 

 ducing fibrosis. Under the battery which brings about 



