106 



Prof. Moore, Dr. Koaf, and Mr. "Whitley. 



[Oct. 9, 



Hansemann recognizes in such abnormal mitoses two general groups, (1) 

 asymmetrical mitoses, in which the chromosomes are unequally ditributed to 

 the daughter cells, and (2) multipolar mitoses, in which the number of 

 centrosomes is more than two, and more than one spindle is formed. 



Hansemann and Galleotti find in this asymmetry of mitoses an explanation 

 of the well-known fact that in cancer cells many of the nuclei are especially 

 rich in chromatin (hyperchromatic cells) while others are abnormally poor 

 (hypochromatic cells). According to Galleotti, the asymmetrical mitoses 

 which may be artificially produced in the epithelial cells of salamanders 

 by treatment with dilute solutions of anti-pyrine, cocaine or quinine are 

 exactly like those seen in carcinoma. 



In these experiments, the drugs used for inducing pathological mitoses are 

 not such as can occur in carcinoma. A variation of the concentration in 

 hydrogen and hydroxyl ions can, however, occur in the plasma, and, in fact, 

 the observations on the absence of acid in the gastric secretion in cases of 

 carcinoma make it probable that such variations do occur. 



It is hence of interest that in our experiments detailed below, in which the 

 concentration of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions was artificially varied, we have 

 found that with increased alkalinity, at a point just short of that at which 

 cell growth was stopped, such pathological mitoses do occur. 



We have observed both the asymmetrical mitoses with unequal distribution 

 of chromosomes and only two centrosomes, and the multipolar mitoses with 

 three or more centrosomes. Also, as the alkali was increased above the 

 normal of sea-water, a marked tendency to irregularity in size and shape of 

 the resulting cells was observed similar to that seen in cancer cells. 



As the amount of alkali was increased, there occurred also a shortening of 

 the dividing chromatin rods, similar to that seen in most maturation divisions, 

 until the rods became in some cases converted into rounded dots. In a 

 certain percentage of the divisions, the number of chromosomes was reduced. 

 The number of chromosomes is exceedingly difficult to count with certainty, 

 but the reduction in many cases amounted approximately to one-half the 

 normal. 



Experimental Methods. 



We have investigated in our experiments the effects of the following 

 alkalies and acids, and alkaline and acid salts : — 



Sodium hydrate, potassium hydrate, calcium hydrate, ammonia, hydro- 

 chloric acid, acetic acid, carbonic acid, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate 

 mono-sodium phosphate (NaH 2 P0 4 ), and di-sodium phosphate (Na 2 HP0 4 ). 



The stock solutions of the acids and caustic alkalies were made in distilled 

 water, titrated and standardized to normal strength, and from these deci- 



