The Philosophy of Tumour-Disease (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1890 Excerpt: ...merely predisposing. Injury and mastitis are frequently the determinants. And among influences of this order must be mentioned the effects of On Cancer of the Male Breast: Lancet, vol. xi.i., 1889, p. 262. the corset. Here is an injurious condition in daily action. The constant pressure of the corset will necessarily affect the structure of the gland disastrously, especially when used to give prominence to the breast by thrusting the mamma upwards. It is known that depressed nipples and inflammation may ensue from wearing this instrument, and we shall presently see from the oases that these effects lead to cancer. Acceptance being accorded to these views of mammary cancer, it may yet be asked why certain women are unable to bear without this grave consequence the apparently due discharge of a natural function? A deeper question remains unanswered, we desire to know the causes of the causes. It appears to me highly probable that mammary cancer is not without relations to a cardinal fact of our social organization. I refer to the institution of monogamic marriages. That monogamy as it exists with us is not a primitive form. of sexual relationship, but an advanced and comparatively modern product of social evolution, is a quite sustainable proposition. With all the immense advantages which accrue to the family and the state from the marriage of one man with one woman, rather than of one man with two or more women, there is yet imposed thereby, upon the individual woman, greatly enlarged duties to the race. This may well be the reason why a seemingly normal amount of maternity is followed by cancerous decay of the breasts. Doubtless it is not simply the large number of children which each married woman on the average is required to contribute which conduces to ...