Cancer: Its Cause and Treatment, Volume 1 (of 2)Bulkley, Lucius Duncan
Science
Cancer: Its Cause and Treatment, Volume 1 (of 2)
Bulkley, Lucius Duncan
Cancer
The _supra-renal_ glands by their secretion have, as we know, great
vaso-constrictor influence, and their complete removal is followed by
death; it is more than possible that some failure in this secretion
allows the exuberant blood to supply cancerous growths. Sajous says:
“Certain growths, particularly the more malignant forms of sarcoma and
carcinoma, seem closely connected with adrenal insufficiency and its
normal consequences,” and there have been some clinical and research
data confirming such a conclusion. Sajous further says, “The adrenals,
as supporters of the thyroid apparatus in the defensive process, and in
sustaining oxidation, metabolism, and nutrition, seem to offer a new
clew to the pathogenesis and treatment of cancer that is worthy of
further inquiry.”
The _pancreas_ has been thought to have some influence in a perverted
metabolism leading to cancer, Kahle stating that there is a retention of
silica in that organ in cancer patients, to even double the normal
amount. A treatment of cancer introduced by Beard, also strongly
presented by Saleeby, by trypsin and amylopsin, the enzymes of the
pancreatic fluid, excited some attention a while ago; but unfortunately
no satisfactory results have thus far been obtained from this line of
medication, as was fully demonstrated by Bainbridge at the New York Skin
and Cancer Hospital, in one hundred cases.
The _pituitary gland_ by its secretion has undoubtedly some coordinating
power, with the adrenals and thyroid, over the processes of metabolism,
and a number of observers have regarded it as of importance in
connection with the genesis of cancer. Little has recently reported some
cases of cancer in which _pituitary extract_ with that of the pancreas
has produced remarkable results.
The _thyroid_ is now recognized as playing an important part in
assisting metabolism, and, like the adrenals and pituitary, its complete
removal, with the parathyroids, in animals is followed by death. While
the study of the hormones is still in its infancy, there seems to be no
question but that the endocrinous glands act conjointly, the one
influencing the other, and that together they exert a very great
influence in the life processes of the body and on the behavior of its
component cells. The thyroid has been shown to be one of the main
factors in the management of calcium within the body, which is believed
to be an element in cancer, and enhances the catabolism of toxic wastes,
which are etiologic elements in this disease. Many have reported
favorably on the effect of thyroid feeding in cancer, and after an
experience with it in many cases I am convinced that it has been one of
the means which contributed to the good results obtained. On the other
hand it has been claimed by Stuart-Low that the surgical removal of the
thyroid, or part of it, or ligation of the thyroid blood vessels has
arrested cancer, in several cases.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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