Lucius Duncan Bulkley

“ For the ordinary requirements of the system, in health, the appetite serves as a guide, which should suffice in man as in wild animals, to preserve the balance of nutrition. But man has also the power to gratify the taste, which must be recognized in our study as distinct from the satisfying of the appetite; and the refinements of civilization have added so greatly to the temptation of wrong and over-eating and drinking, as they have to many other temptations, 109that it is questionable if reason, and what is often spoken of as the natural instinct for food, can be trusted in mankind. ”

“ Cancer is but a deviation from the normal life and action of certain of the ordinary cells of the body, which, for some as yet unexplained reason, take on an abnormal or morbid action; with this there is a continued tendency to a malignancy which invades contiguous tissue, and in the end tends to destroy life. ”

“ In our study thus far we have seen that there is much to be done for cancer besides the surgical removal of the offending mass, the existence of which is an opprobrium to medical science, which has not thus far guarded mankind against it: and until time has passed, and by right living and proper medical attention cancer has ceased to be produced, or become greatly diminished, surgery will probably be a great factor in its treatment, as its mortality statistics are constantly improving. ”

“ From the enormous work which has been done on cancer with the microscope and the test tube, it would seem sometimes that research workers have become somewhat myopic, and not farsighted enough to recognize the true value of statistical studies and clinical observations. ”

“ RELATION OF DIET TO CANCER In our earlier lectures we saw that cancer was undoubtedly a diseased action of originally normal tissue cells, due largely to perverted metabolism, the special features of which were brought out last week. In the second lecture we studied the frequency and geographical distribution of cancer, which was found to be very different for various peoples in diverse sections of the earth, and which we saw was proportioned in a great measure according to their diet and mode of life. ”

“ To effect this we must study the human being in all relations of life, must know the constitution and class of subjects in which the disease is most apt to manifest itself, understand the chemico-physiologic actions going on in the system, before and during the existence of the disease, and by a process of synthesis and deduction understand what is wrong and endeavor to correct it. ”

“ There seems to be some reason to support the view advocated by Williams, that tumor formation and growth are but forms of agamogenesis, or non-sexual reproduction of cells, distinctly related to the decline in growth of the body in general. Hence while the forces of growth, development, and reproduction are in greatest activity the tendency to this disease is relatively small: but when growth declines and nutrition is relatively low the cells undergo gemmation, owing to perverted nutriment, and thus hyperplasia and not inflammation is the starting point of every neoplasm. ”

“ The United States, unfortunately, has not kept the vital statistics of the country in years past with anything like the fullness and accuracy which has obtained in England, nor even at the present time is it possible to learn definitely the frequency and increase of cancer in every locality. But all the statistics which have been gathered show unequivocally that the disease has steadily increased in a manner which is alarming. ”

“ It is a disease of sub-oxidation, and all the hygienic elements of importance in tuberculosis are equally necessary in cancer; fresh air and sunlight with, as far as possible, an ideal regulation of life in all its aspects, are indispensable.
Inasmuch as there is no specific medical antidote for cancer, and we cannot be certain of securing at once the metabolism of health, it is wise to remove and to keep away from the system those articles which have been shown to have more or less influence in its production, namely, animal proteids, coffee, tea, and alcoholics. ”

“ Finally, for our time does not permit a fuller discussion, nervous conditions unquestionably can and very often do exert a profound influence on the secretion of the various organs of the body, and can so disturb digestion, metabolism, and nutrition that the most varied results may follow, to which the names of different diseases are given; so that nerve strain, more or less incident to modern life, must be accredited with a certain share of influence in the production of cancer. ”

“ In China, according to a recent writer, “cancer is comparatively uncommon in those parts where the bulk of the people live on an almost exclusively vegetarian diet, being too poor to purchase any of the various flesh foods, which are there used for culinary purposes.” But in places where cancer is said to be more prevalent, the reporter adds, “All Chinamen there eat fish and pork at morning and evening meals: fowls and ducks are always on the table of all but the most humble of the coolie class.” ”

“ The influence of the mind upon the body is unquestionable, as has been so fully illustrated by Tuke, and from what I have observed I cannot doubt but that the mental depression common in those with the beginning of a process which they fear might result in active cancer, has much to do with accelerating its growth; whereas, on the other hand, the hopefulness which can arise with the attempt to change the diseased process by diet and proper medication, has much to do with the favorable results which may follow in suitable cases. ”

“ We found that in England the per capita consumption of meat was 130 pounds per year, and that it had doubled during the past fifty years, while during the same period cancer had increased four fold; but in Ireland, where the meat consumption was estimated in 1895 at only 40 pounds per capita, or less than one-third that in England, the cancer death rate is very much lower, not much over one-half. We found that in Italy, where the per capita consumption of meat was the smallest of any European country the cancer death rate was almost the lowest. ”

“ METABOLISM OF CANCER In the first lecture we saw that cancer was an alteration of the normal cells of the body, whereby they take on a malignant action and continue to do so, destroying contiguous tissues and leading to a lowered vitality, with an apparent poisoning of the system, which finally causes death. ”

“ In regard to the real bio-chemistry of cancer, we are still greatly in the dark. Vast numbers of studies and researches have been made to determine the real character and nature of the bio-chemical changes which occur in cancerous tissue, and the mere recounting of the reported findings and theories elaborated from them would occupy far more time than can be profitably given in these lectures. ”

“ It is to be remembered that the advance of civilization, and the facilities of transportation and cold storage, have brought from far and near an innumerable number and variety of articles for food and drink, including condiments, which bear no relation to the few simple articles formerly consumed; even the fruits which we eat are rarely ripened fully by nature, but are picked more or less green, and undergo an artificial ripening without the action of the sun, which is really akin to decay. ”

“ The medical treatment of cancer patients is a matter which should receive most careful and constant attention; indeed, the patient in whom cancer is threatening or has developed should be under the watchful and unremitting guidance of a physician who grasps the importance of the matter and is prepared to guard the health, and to meet and correct functional disorders as they arise ”

“ The causes of cancer are deep seated, and, as with many chronic affections, there is no tendency to continue an improvement once begun, but under a return to the same conditions as before the disease will certainly assert itself. We have learned the lesson of assiduous perseverance in tuberculosis ”

“ All statistics from various localities show that cancer has certainly increased in frequency very greatly of late years, and though some have attempted to claim that this increase is only apparent, and is due to greater accuracy of diagnosis, and the prolonging of more lives to an age when cancer is more common, there is no doubt in the minds of those who have studied the figures that the increase is certainly very real ”

“ We noted also that some attributed cancer to independent cell action, relating to the polarity of cells, etc.; but it is inconceivable that a cell or cells can idiopathically start out on a rampant course and pursue it with increasing severity, even until death results, without, at least, some definite pre-disposing cause, even though diligent and earnest work has not as yet determined just what that cause may be. The error has been, we believe, in searching too exclusively by the microscope and by certain laboratory methods, and not sufficiently along clinical and bio-chemical lines. ”

“ It is also well known that in order to preserve health and proper weight there must exist in the economy a certain balance or equilibrium between the amount of the ingesta and excreta, representing the various elements which enter into nutrition; thus we speak of a nitrogen equilibrium, a carbo-hydrate equilibrium, a phosphorus equilibrium, and iron equilibrium, etc., some of which are disturbed continually in ill health and in various diseases, including cancer, as has been shown in our last lecture. ”

“ But every one who has been brought much into contact with cancer knows full well what a mass of recurrent cases exist, possibly many of them due to bad operation, in regard to which surgery has to acknowledge that it can offer nothing more, that they are inoperable and therefore they are regarded as incurable. ”

“ When we inquire into the cause of the systemic disturbance which tends to such faulty metabolism that the nutrition of cellular structures is deranged, even to the degree of taking on malignant action, we find many possible elements, more or less connected with what is known as modern civilization, to which we have time to but briefly allude. ”

“ The phosphates are known to be increased in the urine of cancer subjects, although irregularly and in an inverse ratio to the chlorides; as inanition increases there is greater autolysis of cellular structure, and the nuclei yield an excess of phosphates, which are excreted in the urine. A more or less general demineralization of the system through the urine has been observed by several, and has been recognized as a significant matter, and is of special importance when we consider what an important part minerals take in the nourishment of cell life. ”

“ When we consider the small share which nitrogen plays in the composition of the human frame, as shown in the table presented, only three per cent., it is easy to see how an excess of nitrogenous food must necessarily either pass off unassimilated or undergo imperfect metabolism, and so derange the general metabolism; and this is found to be the case in many conditions of disease, and, as has been shown, in cancer. ”

“ Packard has made a strong argument in regard to the value and importance of the mineral elements contained in plant life, in connection with the disturbances in these same elements which has been observed in connection with cancer, as we have already seen. He recalls that modern chemistry teaches that the inorganic principles of the vegetable kingdom are absolutely necessary to the highest degree and type of animal tissue and health, and resistance to disease. ”

“ Realizing fully that the problem of the cause and proper treatment of cancer is a most profound one, which master minds have long wrestled with and which cannot be fully settled without much further study, these lectures are presented to the profession at large in the hope that they may be the means of helping some one threatened with or suffering from malignant disease ”

“ This may seem strange, but it would surprise you if you knew how very commonly there was imperfect intestinal excretion, or intestinal stasis, as it is now called, in these subjects; indeed, I might almost say that it is the rule, and that this assuredly plays a most important part in the auto-intoxication which leads up to cancer; in fact, I almost feel like saying that the toxins produced by the millions of micro-organisms generated through intestinal stasis and fecal putrefaction are the real, incidental cause of cancer. ”

“ He remarks, “We see from this comparison in what a great degree the death rate from cancer has increased in foreigners as compared to the native born, in whom the disease has remained about stationary, when the increase in population is considered.” Another writer remarks that when native Australians mingle with foreigners as servants or employés, and adopt their diet and customs, cancer occurs more frequently in them. Much the same has been reported in regard to other peoples and nationalities, and later we will consider the influences of urban life on the production of cancer. ”

“ As already intimated, we do not know just why in some persons and at a certain time a disturbance of metabolism results in perverted cell growth, but there is, of course, a reason, and the physician’s duty is so to regulate the patient’s whole life that the metabolism is kept in the state of perfect health. ”

“ 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.” ”