Cancer
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Cancer. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
"the Crab," the fourth of the 12 constellations of the zodiac. The constellation is one of Ptolemy's original 48, but contains no stars brighter than the fourth magnitude, hence it is sometimes called the Dark Constellation. Two of its stars, Gamma and Delta, are called Aselli, "The Little Asses," and between them is the cluster Præsepe, "The Crib," out of which they are feeding. Cancer is bounded by Lynx, Leo Minor, Leo, Hydra, Canis Minor, and Gemini. It lies entirely N. of the equator. CANCER. To the pathologist cancer means a special form of malignant tumor of which the technical name is carcinoma. As commonly used, however, cancer indicates a malignant tumor of any form. The essential difference between a cancer and a so-called benign tumor, is that the former has a tendency to grow out into neighboring tissues by root-like projections, and finally to destroy the tissues themselves. The benign tumor injures its victim only because of its size or inconvenient location. It is not uncommon for benign tumors to take on cancerous properties. For this reason the surgeon suspicious advises that all tumors, all lumps, as one doctor phrases it, should be promptly cut out. Many cures are achieved by the surgeon, where the lump is extirpated while small. The larger and older it is, the less is the chance of curing the victim by surgery. In certain superficial cancerous growths, radium and the x-rays have proved useful; cures have been effected by their application. But when the malignant growth is deepseated, or very active, no form of rays can, as a rule, stay its progress. Regarding the cause of cancer there is as yet no general agreement among experts. The latest experiments indicate that heredity has little part in causing it. cancer is caused by The theory that a germ is also rendered doubtful by modern research. The following summary from the last annual Report of the British Cancer Research Fund, will, perhaps, best indicate the present status of the cancer problem: Spirochætas in Cancer. These organisms claimed by several recent observers to be the true cancer germs, were found in mice not afflicted with cancer, and were not found in cancerous tissues, which leads the doctors of the Fund to conclude that Spirochæta has no causal relation to cancer-is not the long-sought cancer germ. Heredity. - Experiments carried out with successive generations of mice, extending over five years, showed no tendency to the inheritance of cancer. Immunity. It was found possible by the use of inoculations to immunize mice against cancer from other mice. "These achievements must not be confounded," says the report, "with successful vaccination against spontaneous cancer arising." As yet this has not been accomplished, but the prospect that it will be eventually is increased by the work above recorded. This would mean, apparently, routine vaccination for the prevention of cancer; possibly also a curative as well as a preventive vaccine. Just now this is the direction from which a cancer cure seems most likely to come. Increase of Cancer.-Regarding the supposed great increase in the occurrence of cancer, the more conservative surgeons are skeptical. They believe that most of the apparent increase is due to (1) better diagnostic methods; that is, we recognize more tumors as cancers now than was the case formerly, and (2) the fact that more people live to the cancer age. (Cancer (Can is particularly a disease of maturity and old age, although it occasionally occurs in young persons, and even children.) Among the most interesting discoveries of recent years in the cancer field is the fact that this disease is of very widespread occurrence in both the animal and vegetable world. Wild as well as domestic animals are heavy sufferers from its ravages. The chief advance in the treatment of cancer in recent years has been in the employment of radium, which has proved to be an effective remedy. Applied to cancer in its early stages, radium has effected a valuable cure and is an advantage even in aggravated cases. It is the gamma ray which is applied to the cancerous growth. The alpha rays burn, and have to be screened off. The gamma rays destroy diseased tissue before they will attack sound tissue. The chief obstacle to the use of radium is its scarcity and expense. The State of New York in August, 1920, purchased 2 grams and one-quarter of radium for the free treatment of cancer and allied malignant diseases. This amount is sufficient to treat 2,000,000 patients.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
a malignant disease somewhat resembling a carbuncle in appearance. The name is Latin, meaning crab's claw, from the fact that the roots of a cancer, extending in different directions, have somewhat the appearance of a crab's claw. Several kinds of cancer are characterized as hard, soft, black, etc. It is a malady that baffles the skill of the physician. The only sure cure is removal by the surgeon's knife before the roots have penetrated the tissues too far to be reached, for no part of the body, bone or muscle, is proof. Caustic is not infrequently employed to burn out a cancer. Of late hope has been aroused that all but the most grievous cancers may be killed by the use of X rays and certain light rays of an ultra nature. Cancer kills about 30,000 Americans a year. In the whole United States , it ranks seventh in the number of its victims. See Finsen 2026 Editor's Note: Cancer in this era was spoken of in whispers and treated with surgery alone — radium therapy was brand new and crude. The century since built oncology from almost nothing; see history of cancer . (Ed: BR 2026-07-17)