486 BACTERIOLOGY. 
remained well sufficiently long to justify their being 
regarded as cured. It should be distinctly stated that 
all of the tumors under consideration were inoper- 
able, as I have never advised treatment except in such 
cases. 
‘Tt is a curious fact, from the stand-point of path- 
ology, that the largest percentage of successful cases 
has occurred in the spindle-celled variety, the very one 
in which errors of diagnosis are practically impossible. 
In addition to microscopical examinations by the best of 
pathologists, the malignancy of the tumors was further 
confirmed by the characteristic clinical appearances, 
and in many cases by a history of repeated recurrences. 
*‘T have now three cases of spindle-celled sarcoma 
which have remained well beyond three years; one case 
of mixed (round and spindle) celled, which, after re- 
maining well three and one-fourth years, had a return 
in the abdomen, and died about eight months later. 
This case certainly would establish the correctness of 
the early diagnosis.’’ 
Dr. Coley would be the first to acknowledge that 
even the very moderate claims put forward in this 
communication are disputed by many surgeons, they 
claiming that the disappearance of the tumors is due 
to other causes than the treatment. In spite, however, 
of the treatment being frequently deleterious to the 
general health, and the occurrence from time to time 
of the spontaneous disappearance of apparently malig- 
nant tumors, I think we must allow that the proof is 
very strong that some sarcomatous tumors have been 
arrested and caused to disappear by the toxin injec- 
tions, and that where they are clearly inoperative and 
progressing the treatment should be tried. 
