A contribution to the aetiology of cancer : presidential address / delivered by Alexander Brand ... before the East Yorks and North Lincoln Branch, British Medical Association at Hull, the 28th May, 1902.

  • Brand, Alexander Theodore, 1852-1934.
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A contribution to the aetiology of cancer : presidential address / delivered by Alexander Brand ... before the East Yorks and North Lincoln Branch, British Medical Association at Hull, the 28th May, 1902. 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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    We must recognise no such word as “ impossible ” and, without doubt, one day, success will be assured. If success has not been attained it has not been for want of endeavouring to solve this problem. Numberless specific causes have been suggested, and many theories have been evolved, but the very number and variety of these simply go to prove that the true cause has still to be discovered. Alleged Specific Causes. Among many other alleged specific causes Cancer has been ascribed to over-indulgence in tea, in sugar, to the consumption of the succulent but harmless tomato, to excessive flesh-eating, and to excessive consumption of common salt. Well, Cancer was in existence long before tea and sugar became articles of diet, and thousands die of Cancer who never heard of the existence of a tomato. With regard to excessive flesh-eating, this would, doubt- less, give rise to an excess of uric acid in the blood, which is alleged to cause many of the ills to which poor mortals are heirs, and among others to Cancer; but when we find Cancer occurring freely in the Hindoos, who eat flesh sparingly if at all, and also when it occurs in such strict vegetarians as the horse and cow, we fail to see an exclusive causal relation to Cancer on the part of flesh-eating, excessive or otherwise. Of these alleged causes common salt alone is a vital necessity to the organism, and all warm-blooded animals partake of it to the necessary degree, without exception. Braitliwaite alleges that pigs alone of domesticated animals do not have salt given to them, and that, in con- sequence, they are not subject to cancer. Pigs do appear to enjoy immunity from cancer to a