204 MICROBES AtfD HEALTH. 



may result in rapid proliferation of morbid or diseased 

 tissue and produce cancer. 



Tumor. 



The bacteriologists would have us believe 



That cancer is caused by germs. 



They tell us that the cancer-bug feeds on human flesh. 



The schizomycetes on the liver; 



While the actinomycosis and the lockjaw forces 



Send their victims o'er the river. 



Cancers are sometimes simply termed tumors. A 

 tumor is any overgrowth, or abnormal development. 

 Inflammatory swellings are sometimes called tumors. 

 Tumors are deviations, both in size and shape, from the 

 normal tissues in which they are found. Tumors usu- 

 ally possess an inherent tendency of growth; their 

 growth is independent, continuing when the rest of the 

 body is only being maintained in its normal type, or 

 while the tumor is growing the body may lose in weight. 

 Those tumors which end fatally are called malignant; 

 those which are not destructive to life being called 

 benign. 



One of the leading characteristics of a malignant tu- 

 mor is a tendency to degenerate and destroy the ulti- 

 mate elements of the tissue in which it occurs. Gen- 

 erally speaking, a tumor may be considered cancerous 

 (malignant) when it infiltrates or invades surrounding 

 tissue, when it invades the connecting lymphatic glands, 

 when it is attended by stinging or darting pains, or by 

 obstinate and slowly extending ulcerations, when occur- 

 ring is a person having impaired health, and not trace- 

 able to any known cause. People who brood in secret 



