On the micro-organism of cancer / by James Braithwaite.

  • Braithwaite, James, 1838-1919.
Date:
[1895]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the micro-organism of cancer / by James Braithwaite. 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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    Reprinted from the Lancet, June 29, 1895.] \J/nv . ON THE MICRO-ORGANISM OF CANCER., By JAMES BRAITHWAITE, M.D.Lond. Obstetric Physician and Surgeon to the Leeds Ge?ieral Infirmary ; Editor of the ‘ ‘ Retrospect of Medicine, ” &c. ALTHOUGH I have left my mind open on the question, I have never believed in the existence of a micro-organism as the cause of cancer until I recently had the opportunity of watching the rapid spread at its edge of a very superficial epithelioma on the vulvar mucous membrane. The activity seemed to be chiefly at the margin of the disease, and its appearance and almost daily invasion of fresh territory con- vinced me that some infective agency must be at work. The border of the disease was not only brighter in colour than the centre, but it was more raised and appreciable to the touch ; the disease, moreover, increased not by the old part growing, but by the invasion of apparently healthy epithe- lium, which by mere contact became diseased ; in fact, it somewhat resembled a ringworm, but was undoubtedly malignant. A second case also confirmed me in the idea of the active operation of a micro-organism ; this was a minute rodent ulcer on the cheek with a circular depressed surface, having clear-cut edges or walls. The depressed surface was carefully watched by the patient, a highly intelligent woman, and a powerful hand lens showed that some vol- canic action was going on in the little crater. A small