Some considerations on the treatment of cutaneous malignant epithelioma (cancers) / by A.R. Robinson.

  • Robinson, Andrew Rose, 1845-1924.
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Some considerations on the treatment of cutaneous malignant epithelioma (cancers) / by A.R. Robinson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    SOME CONSIDERATIONS ON THE TREATMENT OF CUTANEOUS MALIGNANT EPITHELIOMATA (GANGERS). By A. R. Robinson, M.B., Professor of Dermatology in the New York Polyclinic, Attend¬ ing Physician to the New York Cancer Hospital, etc. It is not my intention in this paper to discuss the etiology of cancer, as at present I could add nothing definite to an elucidation of this most interesting and important subject, although much time has been devoted to it, and when the experiments and studies are more complete the question will receive attention in a later article. As far as the subject of the present paper is concerned, the views I shall advance con¬ cerning the methods of treatment will, from a practical standpoint, hold good whether the view of Cohnheim —the theory of origin from embryonic rudiments— or the parasitic, or the neurotic, or that of diminished physiological resistance power of the sub-epithelial tissues against rebellious proliferating epithelium be correct ; for if the disease be caused by an organism, and the organism continues to act upon the epithe¬ lium and cause its continuous proliferation after it has invaded foreign territory it must reside within the epithelial cells, as will be seen when we come to consider the origin of the secondary tumors ; or if Cohnheiuds theory be correct, the newly formed cells already possess the ability and predisposition to mul¬ tiply; or if the disease consists in the invasion of foreign territory in consequence of diminished resist¬ ing power in the latter, the epithelial cells would still be the offending agent; consequently, which¬ ever of these theories be correct, the complete destruc¬ tion or removal of the morbid epithelium would be equivalent to a removal of the disease. I might here remark, and for reasons which will be given at another