666 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION I. 
The following Papers and Report were then read :— 
1. Cancer Investigation: with special reference to the Gastric Secretion of 
Hydrochloric Acid. By 8, Moncxton Copeman, 2.2.8. 
Professor B. Moore and his colleagues, Messrs. Alexander, Kelly, and Roaf, 
have shown that deficiency of HCl in the gastric secretion in cancer is not, as 
previously believed, confined to cases of carcinoma of the stomach itself, but that 
it can be demonstrated equally in patients suffering from cancer, wherever situated 
in the body. It appeared that the recent development of experimental cancer 
research, involving the transplantation of Jensen’s and other similar tumours from 
one to another of a series of mice, would be likely to afford a means of accurate 
control of the results obtained in man. 
Material for the purpose has been supplied from the laboratories of the Imperial 
Cancer Research Fund, and the amount of physiologically active hydrochloric acid 
in the stomach contents of nearly 1,000 mice, either normal (for purposes of con- 
trol) or suffering from inoculated cancer, has been estimated by means of the 
method devised by Dr. Willcox. Taking into consideration the whole series of 
experiments, there has been found, on the average, a decided INCREASE of physio- 
logically active HCl, amounting in some instances to as much as 50 percent. The 
meaning of this divergence from results obtained in cases of human cancer is at 
present under investigation. 
As the result of the work of various observers on the demonstration of HCl in 
the gastric secretion, dependent, as it apparently is, on an increased alkalinity of 
the blood, it would seem that cancer must be regarded as the local manifestation 
of perverted body metabolism, and in this connection it is of interest to note 
that there is already some evidence that gowt (in which the alkaline reaction of the 
blood is diminished) and cancer are mutually antagonistic, inquiries, statistical 
and otherwise, having up to the present failed to obtain evidence of occurrence of 
these two diseases in the same patient. 
2. The Investigation of the Effects of Climate by means of Laboratory 
Experiments. By Professor ZuNtTz. 
The author gave a short report of investigations begun and partly finished on 
the effect of tropical climate on human metabolism. The principal questions to 
be answered are the effect of the climate on the work of the digestive apparatus 
during rest and during exercise. Dr. Schilling and Dr. Jaffé are doing those 
experiments at Togoland; the chemical analysis is performed at the laboratory at 
Berlin. Moreover Zuntz considers it a most important part of the research to 
study the secretion of the skin, which work he has begun already in the Alpine 
climate, and together with von Schrotter in balloon ascents. 
Secondly, Professor Zuntz gave a description of a respiratory chamber of large 
size, containing a treadmill adapted to different kinds of muscular work. This 
chamber is ventilated by the method of Regnault and Reiset, and gives the possi- 
bility of producing any temperatures and any degree of moisture required. 
3. The Study of Sea Climate. By Dr. Franz MULuER. 
4. Report on the Effect of Climate upon Health and Disease. 
See Reports, p. 403. 
