Fact No. 2 is that if two or more independent malignant neoplasms exist in the body, the removal of one of them tends to be followed by greatly increased activity in that, or those, which remain. I well remember seeing this in a case in which, after the surgical removal from the body of a malignant growth (no medicinal measures being employed) a swelling in the scalp, which had been previously regarded as a benign wen, took on sudden activity and swelled up within a few days, it being found to be malignant.
Fact No.3 is that it has been noted by other observers besides myself that coincidently with the appearance of a malignant tumour, it frequently happens that the general health of the patient shows signs of temporary improvement.
“Carcinomyalgia,” a term given by me many years ago to generalized myalgic symptoms associated with Malignant Disease, and which Dr. Bodman confirmed at one of our meetings, may be taken as Fact No. 4.
Fact No. 5 is that the nosode “Carcinosin” has a definite remedial action in these cases. This suggests that the power of this remedy lies in some potentized specific active material associated with the growth, and if such specific active material exists in the growth it is surely reasonable to suppose it is also present in the system and, if so, why should not its advent have preceded that of the growth?
Fact No. 6 is the recurrence of rare cases which might be described as “fulminating,” such as one I saw not so very long ago. The case was that of a lady of 32 whose appearance when I saw her suggested a pyrexial attack consequent on local inflammation far more than one of simple Carcinoms, though the temperature reminded normal. The tumour had suddenly appeared in the upper and inner segment of the left breast, without any apparent cause either recent or remote. In the short space of a month it had increased to such a size that it occupied the whole of that quarter segment of the breast. All the surrounding tissues on that side of the chest, and part of those on the other side, together with all the glands on that side axillary and supraclavicular, were acutely tender. Tender glands could be felt also above the left elbow and outer side of the wrist on that side, as well as diffused rheumatic pains of a myalgic character over the upper part of the body on both sides. Extreme malaise and general distress were present, and she was much wasted. I was told she had lost considerable flesh in the last month. in quite a short time evidences of liver involvement, with ascites, became apparent, a fatal issue not being long delayed.
The only hope of dealing with such a case would be to give remedies immediately on the onset of the disease.
Fortunately such cases are rare, being obviously due to the disease attacking an individual with unusually weak resistant powers. Such a case, which is after all only an intensified form of the ordinary Carcinoma case, is to my mind a powerful argument in favour of the disease being primarily due to a generalized microbic infection. On the other hand, what a wide gulf separates such a case from that of Cancer artificially provoked in an otherwise robustly healthy individual, as in the case of X-ray Epithelioma (fig.21).
Here on the screen are the hands of one of the martyrs that science demands in its progress towards the ultimate alleviation of human suffering; which, by the way, I have not had the privilege of treating. They show X-ray Dermatitis in its earliest stage, after almost continuous and unprotected exposure to the rays for four to five years, and but indifferent precautions taken subsequently for another nine years. The tendency to the production of small warty excrescences shows fairly clearly. The large one in the centre of the right hand being the first to develop intractable ulceration of an ultimate epitheliomatous character. On removal it was found that neither the deeper structures (such as the tendons or bones) nor the glands were involved, though these later were as a measure of precaution. Other similar epitheliomatous points have continued to develop from time to time ever since, not forming by extension, but being entirely separate from each other, and originating obviously from the cumulative effect of the post ray irritation still remaining. Each point on removal has entirely healed, without any recurrence at the same site, and coincidently, and most significantly of all, the patient himself has continued otherwise, all through, in vigorous health in every way.
Here then we have a Malignant Growth which microscopic examination proves to be identical in appearance with other Malignant Growths, but behaving in a very different way. Does this not suggest that this particular growth lacks something which is present in the other? This essence, material, or substance, I would call “The Specific Element,” to differentiate it from Dr. Gye’s “Specific Factor,” which is a very different thing. In fine, I put forward the thesis that there are two distinct forms of malignant epithelial proliferation.
The more usual one being caused by irritation set up in some favorable locality by a Specific Element (probably a micro- organism), and the other which can be produced artificially by very prolonged mechanical, or radio, irritation.
To differentiate them, I would call them “Specific Carcinoma” and “Local Carcinoma” respectively.
If, as I fancy is the case, the ability to produce a cancerous nodule artificially in this way is the main support for those who maintain that Cancer, as we ordinarily meet it, is a local disease, does not such a suggestion tend to undermine the foundation of their house of cards, and ought it not to make them think very seriously before openly broadcasting their opinion to the public, as an incontrovertible fact, that the knife is a cure of Cancer, and that everyone who has any small nodule, or excrescence, anywhere, must rush off in a state of frenzied alarm to the nearest surgeon to have it removed at once?
The very zenith of fatuity is reached when, in addition, it is suggested that everyone should be professionally overhauled every few months, with a view to the removal of any nodes, or protuberances, they themselves have overlooked. What could be more calculated to keep the conscious, a nd subconscious, mind in that state of fear and anticipation which we all know to be so subversive to health.
It is surely more rational, and humane, to rest the responsibility on the family physician to keep watch, and on the least sign of danger, and without alarming the patient, to seek expert advice, with a view to the immediate commencement of appropriate medicinal measures.
If ordinary Cancer were similar to the mechanical, artificial, non-specific, variety, the growth might be removed with complete equanimity, and with no danger whatsoever of ultimately shortening the patient’s life, but I think the points I have demonstrated show that this is far from being the case.
To my surprise my views as to operation have received confirmation from no less an authority than Sir Thomas Horder, who has recently and openly expressed his belief, which I quote from the public press, that “we shall soon arrive at the point at which the crude method of cutting out cancerous growths-which is not a cure in the true sense-will be a matter of the past.”
If another reason is needed to support evidence on the constitutional side, we have as Fact No. 7 the evidence of that indefatigable seeker after truth, Professor Louis W. Sambon, whose work gives proof of definite affected areas in towns, and the conveyance of some forms of Cancer-producing toxine by vermin.
I think I have said enough to show that the proposition that Cancer is initially and essentially constitutional is not merely a vapid belief. Nevertheless, one is counted a heretic for holding it, so that my reputation cannot lose much more by the appalling suggestion I am now going to put forward. This is that the tumour-formation, which has hitherto, and all along, been regarded as the disease, the whole disease, and nothing but the disease, is in reality an expression of some biological or chemical forces which are at work to counter the more dangerous constitutional enemy. In other words, that it acts as a relief to the system. The fact that, if left untreated, it becomes a danger to life by the abnormal proliferation of its cells, does not to my mind discount such a possibility.
It has been a recognized fallacy in the past, in the case of other maladies, to regard as the disease the symptoms which are really blessings in disguise. Not that at first sight a tumour appears to be a very desirable blessing, but it may be the lesser of two evils, and it would be so if it were the expression of a fight which is going on to counter some toxaemic condition which would otherwise prove rapidly fatal. In this case, metastases would not be due to direct infection carried by the blood-stream from the first growth, as is usually taught, but separate individual tumours formed independently, and having no parentage in the original tumour.
