FURTHER WORK ON EXPERIMENTAL TAR CANCER.

1235 the addition of chlorinated lime. individuals in the same species, between different tissues in the same individual, and even between man on whom the inquest was held, old 65-year different cells in the same tissue. on returning home after a day of strenuous activity, retired to bed feeling ill ; vomiting and purging set in, and he died stuporous about 30 hours after. His METEOROLOGY AND BACTERIAL INFECTION. house was situated about half a mile from the well THE season is one when the " common cold " is in where chlorinated lime was added to the water, and no discomfort or illness accredited to the water-supply evidence and when the doctor’s inability to prevent was reported from any of the intermediate 25 or 30 or cut it short is apt to lead to some reproach of medical connexions along the main. Assuming that the ’, skill. Something might be hoped from a collective deceased man drank as much as two quarts of public study of the medical reports available under the water daily, he would have taken no more than one- Insurance Acts. Do the colds of sedentary workers eightieth of the curative dose of chlorinated lime as last longer than those of outdoor workers ? Does set down in the American Pharmacopoeia. Fortunately keeping the house answer better than going out ? for the credit of the water, an expert pathologist of Are summer colds the most intractable ? The answer the University of Pennsylvania performed an autopsy to questions such as these is outside any possible which showed no evidence of inflammation of the individual experience but should be within the scope of alimentary tract and led him to the opinion that death concerted inquiry. In the meantime help is welcome was due to dilatation of the heart, possibly brought on from any source, and certain passages in Dr. E. J. by exertion in a subject of marked arterio-sclerosis. Butler’s recent address to the Association of Economic This autopsy took place six days ct.17ei- the jury’s Biologists are, at all events, suggestive. In the absence verdict and led to a re-empanelment, when a supple- of a blood-supply and of anything resembling a membrane, the plant can hardly be expected mentary report was issued " that chlorine was neither mucous to throw any direct light on catarrhal conditions in nor the cause of death." The fact directly indirectly that the present constitution of society makes it animals. But Dr. Butler, who is director of the difficult to overtake a lie was, we presume, the reason Imperial Bureau of Mycology, has found one direction for reporting the case fully in the last issue to hand of in which plant disease may have a bearing on the problem. He has shown that such relatively small the U.S. Public Health Reports. variations of temperature as 8 or 10° C., and of humidity as 5 per cent., are sufficient in certain cases FURTHER WORK ON EXPERIMENTAL to determine whether a parasite can cause a 100 per cent. infection or none at all. Plants lend themselves TAR CANCER. to such study inasmuch as they can be grown under WE have referred recently to the importance of this constant conditions of humidity and temperature in new line of experimental cancer research. How chambers when the exact relations of their special actively work in this direction is proceeding is evident diseases to the environment can be determined. This from the fact that we have to record the publication singularly close in some cases, has to be of two further papers on this subject from two new relation, worked out on the parasite and host together, for centres of cancer research. One by Dr. Deelman is the host-parasite complex, as it is called, does not dated from the Antoni van Leewenhoek House in behave in the same way as either alone. always Amsterdam. Both carcinoma and sarcoma were Parasites that are perfectly harmless under one set produced as the result of the repeated application of of conditions will infect freely under conditions not tar to the skin of mice. The paper is in the Dutch different. We should like to see the main very widely language, so that, unfortunately, its contents are not facts of this relationship in plant diseases brought up readily accessible. But the author expresses the for discussion at one of the societies interested opinion that he has observed in one case a carcinoma in climatic medicine. The way specially has already been a The other from benign growth. arising paper2 by by such a study as that of Colonel C. A. Gill Prof. B. Bloch, the Director of the Dermatological prepared on the B61e of Meteorology in Malaria in a recent Clinic in Zurich, and his assistant, Dr. W. Dreifuss, issue of the Indian.] oumal of -Yledical Research. registers a further advance, because these authors have succeeded in locating the cancer-producing agent of SELF-DISINFECTION IN THE CAMPAIGN coal tar in the fraction with a boiling-point of over 300. This fraction is soluble in benzol and retains AGAINST VENEREAL DISEASES. its activity after distillation. This fraction gave the IN the International Journal of Public Healih for remarkable result that 100 per cent. of the mice to 1921, this question is discussed which it was applied gave rapidly growing carcinomata November-December, Sir G. Archdall Reid, who advocates the instrucby within four months. The malignant character of these tion of the individual in methods of self-disinfection, tumours was established by their morphology, by their and Dr. Otto May, who presents the case against. infiltrative and destructive growth, and by the spon- Bothbyarticles should be read, but much that they taneous formation of metastases in lymph glands and contain is mere of the wind. It is a matter beating lungs. The hydrocarbons with a lower boiling-point of regret that the protagonists on both sides of this also produced tumours, but these were of a benign cannot see their way to join hands and oppose character. It is probable that further work along these question a united front to a common evil, for there is a line of lines will yield important and novel information on the not likely to be barren, to which they might difficult and much debated problem of the relationship research, well devote their attention. between benign and malignant new growths. A further The present state of affairs is confusing and annoycommunication dealing in detail with the chemical Both parties to this discussion, and the societies ing. aspect of the various tar fractions and their biological which they represent, are agreed that " the best way properties is promised. Another interesting observa- of avoiding venereal disease is to abstain from protion by these authors is, that while tumours could be miscuous sexual intercourse." That is the ideal, but produced in rabbits and in mice by the application human nature and civilisation being what they are, of tar, guinea-pigs have so far failed to react in the Sir Archdall Reid holds, in effect, that the ideal is same manner. Although the authors do not comment unattainable. He is persuaded of the futility of upon this negative result, it is of interest, because " exhortation " and advocates that " prospective it emphasises the susceptibility of the cell as an sinners shall receive in disinfection." How important factor in the genesis of cancer. Differences this instruction is toinstruction be imparted he does not suffiin the susceptibility of cells to react to a given make clear. If it is to be disirritant by the cancerous change exist not only ciently in lavatories, worded so given by posters that they played ambiguously between different species, but between different will not convey their full meaning to " an innocent 1 Nederl. Tijkdschrift voor Geneeskunde, 1921, Part 2, No. 20 boy," it seems to us it will do more than fail. Yet this is one means by which Sir Archdall Reid suggests (October). 2 Schweizerische med. Wochenschrift, Nov. 10th, 1921. the necessary information should be disseminated. In

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