220 PROTEIN THERAPY 



The recent experimental work of Murphy and others dealing *with 

 the lymphocyte as a factor in resistance to malignant infiltration is 

 one that is not involved in the nonspecific reaction here described be- 

 cause the lymphocytic reaction after such injections is negligible. 

 Miiller has, however, called attention to the fact that epithelial tis- 

 sues he observed new formed epithelial bridges covering granulation 

 tissue seemed particularly susceptible to the digestive changes in- 

 duced by milk injections, etc. 



A different course of procedure has been adopted by Opitz and 

 Friederich in trying to use the nonspecific reaction in conjunction with 

 the Roentgen irradiation. While their result is merely experimental, 

 it offers at least the possibility of development. 



In their studies on the treatment of carcinoma by means of 

 Roentgen irradiation and radium they soon came to realize that the 

 growth does not depend wholly on the inherent rate of the tumor cell 

 growth but on the resistance of the tissues that were the seat of the 

 malignant invasion. This varies not only with individuals but under 

 certain physiological conditions as well. v. Groff, as well as Slye, 

 have, for instance, called attention to the depression of the rate of 

 tumor growth in mice during pregnancy, and while Slye seems to con- 

 sider the increased metabolic demands of the maternal and fetal 

 organisms responsible for this inhibition on the rate of tumor growth, 

 other factors possibly enter into the mechanism. 



A similar depression in the rate of growth may be observed at 

 times during the course of infectious diseases, after serum injections 

 and other related procedures where we find an increase in the anti- 

 ferment of the serum and a resulting tendency for the protection of 

 connective tissue and a depression of the protein metabolism that fol- 

 lows after all these nonspecific alterations. Of course, during the acute 

 shock effects either in infectious diseases or after nonspecific injec- 

 tions, or after parturition when proteolytic enzymes are mobilized, 

 marked digestive phenomena may be observed at the site of the 

 malignant invasions but this usually concerns the digestion of tissue 

 already necrotic, or of connective tissue hyperplasias. 



Bergel has reported observations concerning the acceleration growth 

 of bony tissue after nonspecific injections and Hoke, Doberauer and 

 Pittroff saw a similar effect on connective tissue. Opitz and Fried- 

 erich proceeded to make use of this principle in their work with 

 Roentgen rays. Assuming that after irradiation the connective tissue 

 cells were to a degree fatigued, by nonspecific injections these cells 

 might be stimulated and the fatigue so overcome. On this basis these 

 rejuvenated cells would then react like young cells and an atreptic im- 

 munity would be established; the carcinoma cells would die of inani- 

 tion, would be "strangulated" and become necrotic. 



While their results are not extended enough to warrant any con- 

 clusions they state that they were encouraging. Warnekros is said 



