JoLY — Search for Thorium in Cancerous Growths. 347 



of collapse of the leaf was 8 soale-divisions per hour. Hence one scale- 

 division per hour indicates the presence of 2 x 10"' gram of thorium. If 

 the total weight of tissue dissolved in this solution had contained as much 

 as 2 xlO-* gram of thorium, this would have accelerated the collapse of the 

 leaf by one scale-division per hour — an acceleration quite determinable. 

 The following experiments vrere made : — 



I. Cancer inwlving stomach and lymphatic glauda. — Examination of 

 sections under microscope showed that about one-fifth part of stomach 

 was actually composed of cancer-cells. 



145 grams were heated in 200 c.c.'s strong HCl. The solution was made 

 up to about 800 c.c.'s with distilled water. The whole of this solution was 

 treated in the manner described above. 



The electroscope, which had been steady at a rate of loss of 3 scale- 

 divisions per hour before ebullition began, maintained this rate unaltered. 

 Hence thorium, in amount greater tlian 2 x 10'' gram, was not present. 

 This amount would be about 1-4 x 10"' gram per gram of tissue. The 

 experiment does not bear on the presence of radium, as the solution was 

 vigorously boiled before attaching to the electroscope. 



II. Liver in part replaced bi/ cancer. — Same case as I. 



1189 grams were heated in 1000 c.c.'s strong HCl for 24 hours. Total 

 volume of solution was 2150 c.c.'s. 400 c.c.'s of this solution were taken and 

 diluted to 900 c.c.'s with distilled water. Weight of tissue involved about 

 236 grams. The electroscope was running at 5, but slowing down a little 

 and nearing 4 scale-divisions per hour when ebullition began. It then rose 

 to 5 scale-divisions, but shortly after fell again, declining finally to 3 scale- 

 divisions per hour. 



The conclusion must be that more than 2 x 10"° gram of thorium was 

 certainly not present, i.e. about 8 x 10"' gram per gram. 



III. Sarcoma of ovary. 



Weight taken 220 grams : treated with about 290 c.c.'s HOI, and solution 

 diluted to 800 c.c.'s. 



Readings of electroscope remained steadily at 2 divisions per hour, 

 whether the boiling solution was in train or not. 



Conclusion. — No thorium was present in amount exceeding about 

 9 X 10'* gram per gram. 



