Real and apparent differences in the incidence of cancer / by E.F. Bashford.

  • Bashford, Ernest Francis, 1873-
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Real and apparent differences in the incidence of cancer / by E.F. Bashford. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    2d regards cure, the consequences he has described of inocu- lating a mouse with a mite of tissue no larger than a pin s poinf show how rational is the modern surgical treatment of the disease. He points to the fact that the early sur- gical removal of the small piece of tissue at the site of moculation prevents the diffusion of the disease, and the formation of secondary deposits in remote parts of the body. This evidence, in his opinion, demonstrates the necessity for prompt removal of the smallest growths, as is now constantly advocated by surgeons, and too often as constantly neglected by patients. In consequence of the difficulty of recognising cancer in its earliest stages, Dr. Bashford sees little hope that within a reasonable time primary growths will be amenable to anything short of absolute removal. On the other hand, however, he says that from the fact that animals can be rendered unsuitable for the growth in their bodies of malignant processes, we are entitled to hope that eventually we may be able to so far enhance the power of resistance of the organism that the cells disseminated from the site of inoculation shall be unable to grow. As regards the nature of cancer, Dr. Bashford assures us with confidence that much more is now known than was the case a few years ago. At all events, the way has been cleared by the demolition of theories of causation, which were rife only very recently. The manner in which carcinoma can be transmitted from individual to individual has now been so fully established experimentally as to be no longer in doubt. The experimental transfer of the disease presents a striking contrast in this respect—that transference can be effected very much more readily to young than to old animals. This is in absolute contradiction to what might have been—and, as a matter of fact, was—expected. This difference between young and old animals is, in Dr. Bash- ford’s judgment, especially important in determining our conception of the etiology of cancer. Dr. Bashford draws the conclusion that the greater frequency of cancer in later life is not due to increasing suitability for the growth of cancer; on the contrary, animals become less suitable for this growth the older they are. He tells us that, practically, every mouse can be successfully inoculated if the experimental conditions are favourable. Finally, Dr. Bashford tells us that mice can be protected against successful inoculation by preceding inoculation of cancerous tissue from another mouse, but not from an