THE CONQUEST OF CANCER
TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW
A List of the Contents of
this Series will be found
at the end of this volume
THE
CONQUEST OF CANCER
BY
With an Introduction by
“Malum immedicabile cancer.” (Ovid, Met. x, 127)
London
KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO., LTD.
New York: E. P. DUTTON & CO.
1925
Printed in Great Britain by
F. Robinson & Co., at The Library Press, Lowestoft
The phrase “Conquest of Cancer”,though perhaps emotive rather thanscientific, nevertheless implies theexistence of a very real and importantproblem. And this problem, it may beconfidently affirmed, is one that willnever be solved, in action, by the effortsof the medical profession alone. Whateverbe the future, and as yet reserved,revelations of Science, and whateverthe further developments of Art, cancerwill not cease to exact its toll unlessmedical science and art obtain theintelligent co-operation of an instructedpublic. It is for this reason that it hasbeen thought useful to place before thepublic this little book, written by apractical surgeon who has given specialattention to the problems of the[6]laboratory. The book itself, which notonly states in simple language theessential points that should be comprehendedby the public, but putsforward a plan for concerted action, isbased upon one of a series of UniversityExtension lectures given duringthe winter of 1922–23, at the ShantungChristian University, Tsinan, China,where Mr Wright is actively engagedin the Surgical Department of theSchool of Medicine.
The task of prefacing this essay bysome words of introduction has devolvedupon the present writer, not because heeither has, or desires to present, anyclaim to speak with special authorityconcerning Cancer, but by reason of aclose personal and professional friendshipthat has led him to appreciate verywarmly the knowledge, the sincerity,and the disinterestedness that characterizeMr Wright’s thought and work.And he is confident that we may acceptwhat has been said about Cancer at[7]Shantung as an honest and candidattempt to instruct and to construct,in detachment from the pribbles andprabbles that have sometimes confuseddiscussion nearer home.
Now, although the public has theundoubted right to demand informationon this subject, and although, as hasbeen suggested, without admission ofthe public to the arena of discussionlittle can be done to diminish thepresent mortality from Cancer, yet isthere real difficulty in communi