Transcriber’s Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
CANCER
ITS
CAUSE AND TREATMENT
PREFACE
Cancer has hitherto been regarded almostwholly from its histological and surgicalaspects. The investigators and practitionersalong these lines have been innumerable,the work done prodigious, and theliterature relating thereto enormous. Butrelatively little attention has been paid tothe medical aspects of this most threateningmalady, although voices have beenraised from time to time, with more or lessforce, all joining in the same plea that thebasic cause of the disease lies in some derangementin the vital forces of the organism,as influenced largely by diet and modeof life.
It has, therefore, seemed to the writerthat it was time to stop and look at cancerfrom a broader aspect, and by synthesis8and deduction to seek to understand someof the underlying causes of malignant disease;also to see if some general principlescould not be ascertained upon which couldbe based an explanation of the views hehad long held, and of the practice which hehad long followed in regard to the preventionand cure of this dire malady. Andas his studies progressed he was more andmore satisfied that the true solution of thecancer problem lay along the lines indicated,although there was still very muchto be learned regarding the details and applicationof the principles involved.
The lectures were prepared for and deliveredto practicing physicians at the NewYork Skin and Cancer Hospital, in connectionwith the regular Wednesday lectureson Diseases of the Skin, as I felt thatI should give them the benefit of what Ifelt to be of value in my own practice, privateand public.
Although holding the views here expressed9for many years I have hesitatedwriting strongly on the subject before, lestI should be misunderstood or misjudged:for favorable results based solely on aclinical diagnosis of cancer are alwaysdoubted. I have also feared lest by advocatinga dietetic