384 PHARMACEUTICAL BACTERIOLOGY 



in the pharjmx, in the nares, on any of the mucous membranes, and in 

 cuts and wounds. Animals such as cats and dogs may carry the infection. 

 The sick must be isolated and all discharges from nose, mouth and throat 

 as well as the bed linen, etc., must be sterihzed and disinfected. Upon 

 recovery, the sick-room must be thoroughly fumigated by means of for- 

 maldehyde. Bedding, mattress and pillows must be disinfected. The 

 anti-diphtheric serum should be used early and in large doses. The best 

 authorities look upon this remedy as a specific always effecting a cure, 

 provided it is given in time and given in adequate doses. All those who 

 have been exposed should receive a proplylactic dose of the remedy (about 

 1,000 units). The other remedial agents as gargles, sprays, etc., should 

 not be neglected. The diphtheria toxin acts on the heart and all patients 

 should be warned against any sudden or severe exertion until complete 

 recovery is assured by the attending physician as death has resulted from 

 a single undue action, as jumping or suddenly rising from bed. 



G. Cancer. — The primary cause, the secondary causes and the treat- 

 ment of cancer are all in the dark as yet. We know that this disease rarely 

 develops eailier than middle life. It usually runs a comparatively short 

 course (several months to two years), producing some rather marked 

 symptoms (the cancerous cachexia), with constant pain, and a very char- 

 acteristic waxy pallor of the skin. It is to be hoped that the primary 

 cause and the cure will be discovered in a short time. There are some indi- 

 cations that a tendency to cancer is inherited and that the primary cause 

 is an organism resembling the 'protozoa group. There is a popular belief 

 that eating raw tomatoes causes cancer, and it may be that the Plasmod- 

 ium of cancer resides in some vegetable. Cancer may attack any tissue 

 or organ, although the internal viscera, as liver and stomach, are more com- 

 monly affected. Cancer should be treated as a contagious disease though 

 the proof of its contagious nature is not conclusive. 



All advertised cancer cures are fakes. There is no known cure for 

 cancer. Surgical removal of cancerous growths has been the means of 

 prolonging hfe, but the trouble is very apt to recur. Many cases are 

 inoperable. 



Among the agencies which have been tried as cures for cancer are 

 mixed streptococcic bacterins; radium emanations from various sources, 

 as radium and other radioactive minerals, water rendered radioactive, and 

 radioactive clay; and plant extracts. None of them have proved satisfac- 

 tory. Radium has undoubtedly effected some cures and improvements 

 but it is far from reliable. The- principle upon which the use of radium 

 emanations are based are as follows. The emanations are destructive 

 to hving tissues, but even more destructive to pathological tissues. A 

 carefully^adjusted dose of emanations will kill pathological tissue, such as 



