The cancer problem : a statistical study / by C.E. Green.

  • Green, C. E. (Charles Edward), 1866-1920
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The cancer problem : a statistical study / by C.E. Green. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    (2) There is the strongest presumption, as I HAVE TRIED TO SHOW IN THE FIRST CHAPTER, THAT CANCER IS DUE TO A SIMILAR CLASS OF ORGANISM, is it not probable that the trades which show con- stantly the highest cancer death-rate may work under conditions which stimulate the growth of a parasite in a similar fashion ? One would naturally first of all think of sulphuric acid itself, but so far as I can discover this alone does not cause cancer, for the following reason:—As is shown by the Registrar-General, papermakers are almost immune from malignant disease. Now in only one or two mills in this country and in France a private process is carried out for making vegetable parchment by the use of large quantities of sulphuric acid. I have letters from every such mill in Great Britain to the effect that cancer was unknown amoim the men constantly working with the acid, while a friend who inquired personally at each of the French mills got the same result. This instance seems con- clusive, as here we have a group of men belonging to a trade which is otherwise practically immune brought into constant contact with H2S04 and with a negative result. Strange to say, it has lately been shown that sul-