CANCER DUE TO ERRORS IN FEEDING.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 688, 29 November 1921, Page 2

CANCER DUE TO ERRORS IN FEEDING.

“Cancer has too Ibng been studied and regarded as a local disease. On the other hand, evidence has steadily been accumulating all over the world that, while the individual lesions may be incited by local injury, the disease is really of a constitutional nature, I'ike so many other diseases, especially in middle and advanced life.” In these words Dr L. Duncan Bulkley, senior physician to the New /o>-k Skin and Cancer Hospital, opened an ajddress before the American Association for Cancer Research, which is reported in full in the New York “Medical Journal.”

In supporjt of his assertion Dr Bulkley quoted the opinions of some of '.the greatest surgeons and! physicians, from Abernethy, a hundred years ago, to J. B. Murphy and William J Mayo, of our own day. And he called attention to the fact that in spite of the suitgery and radium and X-rays, the mortality from cancer is actually on the increase, while that of /tuberculosis is on the decline. In 1915 there was active surgical propaganda throughout the country, but the year following the “actual rise in |ths mortality from cancer, as shown by the United States mortality tables, was double the per centage of the average rise of the five preceding years.” . In New. York City, from Ist July to 31st De-.j cember, 1920, 2691 deaths from cancer were recorded and 26,669 from tuberculosis.

As proof of the constitutional' nature of cancer, Dr Bulkley presented the following : Cancer is not parasitic. Cancer is not conotagious or infectious. No cause for cancer has been found. Cancer cells are but ait ere a normal cells. Feeding experiments show a possible control of cancer growth. Contrast of deafh rate since 1900 between cancer and tuberculosis. Steady increase of cancer deaths under active surgery, X-rays and radium. , . , Blood changes in early anu late cancer. Metabolic changes in the system before and after the development ot the local cancerous lesion. Opinions of many celebrated suigeons during the last hundred jeais to the present time. Spontaneous cures of cancer well authenticated. Dozens or hundreds ox attested cases of benuefit or cure of cancer by other l than local measures, in this and other countries. 1 In fuither discussing the utter failure of surgery, X-iays and raoium to check the advance of cancer throughout the world,” Dr liulKley said: — “All agree tnafc cancer cells are only body cells, once healthy, which have thrown off their allegiance to normal control, leaving theii nature function of secretion, ere., and expending their whole energy upon growth, which we call ma ignant because of (the harm which we observe to result from their action.' “Now,” repeated laboratory experiences by a number of reliable observers have demonstrated in a most remarkable way the absolute controlling effect of diet on the development o/'inoculated cancer in mice and rats, so that the process was inhibited almost entirely by certain vegetable feedings. “Does this not stimulate us to vtry to discover wherein this mysterious influence lies ? Does it not suggest Shat possibly the outrageous conduct of the cells has something to do with the pabulum with which they had been nourished ? Even as mutiny in a regiment or on shipboard might be started by one or men who rebelled at the quality or quantity of the food furnished, and then be spitead (to many others, with new groups developing, until the errors were corrected.. “The mortality rates of tuberculosis and cancer have oAten been compared, and teach us a lesson along these lines, although in a different direction ; the 'death rejte of the former during the last twenty years has fallen, under wise medical direction, about 30 per cent., while that of cancer has risen almost the same 30 per cent., under active surgery, X-rays, and radium, because they were operating on the mistaken idea that cancer was a local affection. “Both tuberculosis and cancer have to do with nutrition, but at opposite poles. The tuberculosis subject is underfed and overworked. In the former poor nutrition allows the operation of the omnipresent tubercle bacilli; in the latter certain individual cells rebel and mutiny. When the tuberculosis patient is properly nourished, including oxygen, he ceases sto furnish, the necessary nidus for the bacilli, and when the cancer subject is nourished with a proper blood supply the rebellious cells return co their allegiance, as would the soldiers or bailors, if an intelligent officer rectified their error of nutrition.