TI-I3ED 
CAUSE AND CURE 
OF 
MALIGNANCY. 
AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT 
TO THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 
BY 
WILLIAM THORNTON, 
Boston, Mass., 
U. S. A. THE 
CAUSE AND CURE 
OF 
MALIGNANCY. 
AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT 
TO THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 
BY 
WILLIAM THORNTON, 
Boston, Mass., 
u. s. A. Copyrighted 1894, 
By William Thornton, Boston, Mass. Preface. 
®CCASIONALLY, original articles appear in the different 
Medical Journals which, according to the subject matter 
they contain, are more or less interesting to the medical prac- 
titioner. They have their place and serve their purpose in 
aiding medical advancement, which enables the physician to 
accomplish greater results than are otherwise attainable. 
The self-sacrificing characteristic, in advancing everything 
from whatever source that will relieve the pain and suffering 
of humanity in general, is always to be found in the true 
physician. Science neither tolerates prejudice nor 
mercenary motives from any source. According to science, 
everything must stand or fall, if not found in possession of 
that intrinsic merit set forth by its advocate. It is easy to 
recall the many plausible announcements made to the Med- 
ical Profession and their failure to hold water when exam- 
ined. We have not far to look for a reason of this fact. It is 
sometimes due to over-zealousness, on the part of the 
practitioner, to communicate the supposed advantages 
obtained in the treatment of a particular disease. The 
many disappointments, after glowing accounts of the results 
obtained in the treatment of the so-called incurable diseases, 
and the many failures to substantiate the claims set forth by 
their adherents are the cause of doubt and suspicion arising 
in the mind of every practitioner, who would be otherwise 
rather than sceptical. 
The subject matter of this paper is an explanation of the 
Cause and Cure of Malignancy and the promise made in my 
work entitled Philosophy of the Three Ethers, issued in 1891, 
I now begin to fulfil by placing at the disposal of the Medical 
Profession “ the means that can be adopted in the treat- 
ment” of the gravest class “ of those diseases which are now 
the approbia medicoriim 
With these few preliminary remarks, I beg most respect- 
fully to leave this paper to the judgment of the reader. 
William Thornton, 
3 Hamilton Place, 
March, 1894. Boston, Mass., U. S. A. Part I. 
of t!?e /T\edieal profession: 
I hasten to you as custodians of the public health to make 
known a discovery, a discovery of such a nature that it may 
be received by you almost, if not quite, in the same light as 
one that could announce the discovery of the Philosopher’s 
Stone or that any one of the so-called Follies of Science is 
no longer untenable-. The turning of the baser metals into 
gold, as claimed by the Alchemists of old, would be believed 
as quickly by you as the discovery I am now prepared to 
announce, unless supported by the most incontrovertible 
evidence and sustained by facts. I am now prepared to say 
to you, Gentlemen, that the fell monster, that has slain his 
thousands of our noble race, has himself been slain and this 
paper will lay before you the plan of the campaign that has 
ended in such a victory and will explain to you how this fell 
enemy was routed and driven from that territory on which 
he can never appear again. 
This discovery was not the result of accident, but the re- 
sult of laborious investigation in the fields of medical and 
pathological chemistry, occupying over twenty years in its 
duration. 
It would take more time than I think you would care to- 
spend in listening to the numerous disappointments and un- 
satisfactory results that I could relate, that have occurred 
to me during these twenty years of investigation, before end- 
ing in the dispovery of the cure of malignancy. 
It requires more than a mere announcement to convince 
you, Gentlemen, that all diseases of a malignant type can be 
prevented and also removed when established, without other 
means than internally adminstered formulae, no applications 
of any kind whatever being required. You will not be sat- 
isfied with any statements made until you have seen the re- 
sults obtained. Before referring to the history and success- 
ful treatment of cases, I think you will desire to hear first the 6 
groundwork of reasoning pursued in order to obtain these 
results. 
In the first place, by exhaustive mathemetical reasoning, 
I reached the conclusion that there is only one kind of 
matter in nature and that the physical differences of sub- 
stances can be accounted for by the relative positions of the 
atoms in their composition; and also that all chemical 
compounds arise from the arrangement of their atoms, be- 
cause we find the same formula in so many physically differ- 
ent substances. One kind of matter, modified by the physi- 
cal agencies of nature, also accounts for the physical and 
chemical distinction between organic matter on the one side 
and inorganic matter on the other. This distinction is made 
without requiring vitality to explain the distinction. In this 
way I reached the conclusion that there is no such thing in 
nature as living matter, and upon this fact rests the discovery 
of the cause and cure of malignancy. This assertion that 
matter does not live is opposed to the present system 
of biology as understood throughout the world. We hear 
from the most eminent biologists of living and non-living 
matter, organic and inorganic, so that it may seem to you 
almost presumption in me to say that matter does not live 
nor is it necessary to live, in order to explain the phenomena 
of organization. 
If we can find no difference between the processes of living 
or organic and non-living or inorganic chemistry, we shall 
have established the fact that organic or living and inorganic 
or non-living matter are identical, with the exception that 
the organizing process is a more highly elaborated state of 
the other. (I wish to state here that wherever I use the 
words living matter I mean so-called living matter.) Before 
examining into the chemistry of the building up of living 
compounds, we should first be acquainted with the chemical 
action going on in the inorganic or non-living world ; that is, 
we must know as much as possible the way in which chemical 
combination takes place and the changes going on in inor- 
ganic or non-living bodies of all kinds in nature. 
Chemists speak of as many kinds of matter as there are 
chemical elements in nature. I maintain that there is only one kind of matter in nature, the apparent differences being 
only accidental and produced by the potentiality or poten- 
tialities pent up in each particular element. The multiform 
compounds in nature are produced by the differentiations of 
one kind matter by the joint and mutual potentialities con- 
cerned in the production of each particular compound of 
whatever degree of complexity. It is the simple or compos- 
ite potentialities of the elements known in chemistry that 
gives them their peculiar power and properties, which make 
them differ so much from one another, so that the so-called 
elements are not elements but compounds of simple matter 
plus their potentialities. The so-called chemical combination 
of these elements comes from the liberation of a peculiar 
stress between them. Remove the forces opposing the unity 
of any two elements and they become more mechanically and 
not chemically combined. The stress to which I refer is the 
same somewhat as the stress to be overcome before the elec- 
tric spark appears, in combining the different potentials of 
electricty. 
The one kind of matter to which I refer is amorphous 
or non-crystallizable in character. The physical changes 
arise in it, as soon as the polar forces enter amorphous 
matter to make it crystallizable. Animal matter is another 
form or modification of amorphous matter so differentiated 
as to prevent the polar forces from remaining in it. 
The way the binary became ternary, in the origin of the com- 
plex combination of elements for life to appear, came from 
the liberation of the potentialities that prevented their union. 
The prevention of the polar forces from remaining in amor- 
phous matter is the cause of animation and reproduction, 
making viscosity and flexibility within given limitations ab- 
solutely necessary for animation to appear. The continual 
abstraction of the polar forces from individual cells and 
from the collective cells forming the human body constitutes 
the rhythmical motion known as the internal respiration of 
cells, which continues their flexibitity and viscosity during 
functionality. 
It is known by every biologist and naturalist that a partic- 
ular complexity of matter was necessary before life could appear on earth, so that the physical agencies of nature had 
to elaborate a highly complex matter for this purpose, name- 
ly, protoplasm, which is the same in all animate bodies and 
is known as a viscous, jelly-like substance, possessing motion, 
secretion, digestion, excretion and reproduction. Of the 
nature and composition of protoplasm very little more is 
known today by physiological chemists than about its mys- 
terious origin; its chemical composition and functionality 
are very little understood by the most advanced scientists 
throughout the world. Confronted by these facts I undertook 
the laborious task of investigating into the origin, nature and 
composition of this mysteriously arranged complexity of 
matter. 
All non-crystallizable mineral matter contributing to the 
ultimate formation of protoplasm, when fully elaborated, is 
•colloid in its nature, possessing a specific decree of viscosity 
and flexibility before and when animated. As we ascend 
from the first unit or cell of protoplasm in the scale of 
vitality, we reach that degree of morphological differen- 
tiation where the crystallizable matter for the fabric of 
higher species is required. Such being the case, I make 
a very necessary distinction between protoplasm on the 
one side and crystallization on the other, in explaining 
the way in which organizable differs from inorganizable 
material on a chemical basis, life taking no part in elab- 
orating this distinction, vitality or life coming to it when 
nature has completed its work of elaboration and then 
only by association for a limited time. 
I use the term colloid as a general term representing all 
the soft and flexible parts of the tissues of the animal body 
and every other known body in nature that, in the absence of 
crystallizable mineral matter, does not crystallize. 
In the albuminoid principles are combined intimately the 
crystalloid and the colloid. In the albuminoid we have both 
the nitrogenous and non-nitrogenous principles intimately 
combined. These principles are found as products of the 
decomposition of the albuminoid, as it is from these that we 
separate the colloid from the crystalloid in the process of 
dialysis. The physiological chemist is familiar with the 
method of their separation, one from the other. 9 
Since we can have the colloid manifesting life without the 
crystal, there being mineral matter only that does not assume 
the crystalline form in the bodies of the lowest units of life, 
these being almost purely colloid specks, it proves that the 
colloid matter must be the animal matter of the body as dis- 
tinct from the crystalloid. The colloids of protoplasm are 
proteids which permeate the crystalline part of the animal 
body. In all instances of so-called living matter ' we must 
find colloid matter. Mineral matter is necessary and asso- 
ciated with protoplasm in order to continue the chemical 
changes going on in the process of reproduction, but crys- 
tallizable matter is perfectly distinct from the colloids of 
protoplasm. The physical agencies of nature differentiate the 
colloids till they culminate in the formation of protoplasm, 
so that protoplasm is a representation of the completely 
elaborated compounds taken into the body as food. The 
chemical interchanges and the more consumable parts of the 
body, in health and disease, are to be found in the colloids, 
which of necessity require mineral matter to conduct such 
changes on account of the intimate association of the 
colloids with mineral matter, and without which the inter- 
changes could not go on. 
The crystalloids build up the fabric of the body, but the 
colloid both institutes and continues the process of repro- 
duction. Through the colloid the binary became ternary. In 
order to form a colloid body, we require in all instances the 
same aggregation of chemical matter, which is arranged about 
the same way in every living body. We do not require a 
special aggregation of chemicals to form crystals, as crystals 
can be formed by different kinds of matter. Notwithstand- 
ing that the inorganic part of the body is the mineral part, 
in the absence of the mineral life could not go on, making 
the mineral of the inorganic as indispensable to life as the 
colloids of the organic or living. 
We have abundant evidence that the condition for life to 
appear must have been first, which gives us the absolute au- 
thority to assert that crystallization existed before colloid or 
albuminoid formation, in those periods before life appeared. 
It is quite evident that carbon and phosphorus had to be form- 10 
ulated by the physical agencies of nature, before life could ap- 
pear. This fact is absolutely certain, showing that life de- 
pends upon a certain chemical nucleus in order to associate 
itself with matter. After the central point is formed, which 
resembles a nucleus in the accretion of particles to the for- 
mation of crystals, we have evidence in inorganic nature of 
the forces acting from the periphery or circumference to the 
centre by the accretion of units, manifesting the law of sym- 
metrical aggregation, the units being arranged during crys- 
tallization by the polar forces internal and external to the 
matter acted upon, so that there must be a reciprocal re- 
sponse between the forces acting interior to a crystal and 
those acting exterior. Polar force does not enter, or if it does 
it escapes from amorphous matter composing the colloid. 
When colloid matter loses its polar force, it cannot be made 
to crystallize. Rhythmical attraction and repulsion within 
given limits is the cause of flexibility in colloid matter. The 
highest function of the crystal is its structural power, derived 
from the polar forces of its units arranging themselves sym- 
metrically about its central point or nucleus. The gradational 
abstraction of polar force from crystallizable matter causes 
rhythmical motion in colloid matter. In what is called living 
matter there is another agency acting, which distinguishes 
the difference between the so-called living and the non-living 
matter. The forces acting within and upon the matter asso- 
ciated with life not only possess everything in common, but 
are identical with the forces of nature. Each particular 
crystal demands in all instances the same influences, which 
minister to the production of its type. The forces forming 
the crystal are the same forces acting in or controlling the 
symmetrical aggregation of the cells forming the human 
body. 
If we examine into the mode of growth of the living body 
or the simplest unit or cell, we shall find that functionality 
arises from the centre or nucleus, where there is one, and 
then extends gradationally to*the circumference of the cell 
as already proven, but there is no growth whatever manifest- 
ed in dead matter nor any power to reproduce its kind. 
Morphological differentiation continues with physic evolu- 11 
tion, the matter associated with this agency acting through 
and in harmony with it, from the inward where life has en- 
tered to the outward; that is, from the centre or nucleus of 
the cell to the periphery or the circumference. 
Every living thing requires either a nucleus or a central 
point of origin before it can appear, sustaining the fact that 
there must be only one kind of matter in nature, although 
there are cells without a nucleus but not without a central 
point. Heat, light, electricity, mechanical power and 
magnetism are the agencies acting upon one kind of nucleus 
of like nature throughout, causing and bringing, by coloni- 
zation, the many different kinds of animal bodies into 
existence, a sort of creation, as it were, as far as material 
goes, on a natural and not a supernatural basis. The above 
leads us to the fact that it was absolutely necessary, before 
life could appear on earth, for the potentialities of nature to 
prepare a nucleus for this purpose. The nature and 
composition of this nucleus must be understood, before we 
can know anything about the cause of its appearance. 
By the aid of the spectroscope and other means I have 
found that sulphur and phosphorus are compounds and not 
elements as supposed by chemists, and that phosphorus is 
produced from a differentiation of sulphur by the potential- 
ities of chlorine and hydrogen, its consistency being derived 
from electrical fixity. After it is once formed, it becomes a 
nucleus in the formation of protoplasm and is afterwards the 
point or nucleus which permits the action of the electrical 
potentiality of nitrogen, drawing the polarities of the earth 
through it, in conducting the physical and chemical changes 
for the production of seeds, plants, vegetables and animals. 
I now come to a very important announcement, which is 
that I have discovered what that incentive is which acts upon 
the nucleus, first formed by the agencies of nature, and 
starts the process for the ultimate production of protoplasm 
and afterwards animation, by having found that nitrogen plays 
a much more important part in the economy of living matter 
than oxygen does. 
Sunlight acting upon phosphorus, in the already pre- 
pared nucleus, attracts an electrical energy or potentiality 12 
that I have found pent up in that so-called indolent nitrogen. 
This, by the aid of magnetic iron, carbon and amorphous 
matter, attracts or draws forth the electrical energy from the 
polarities of the earth, through phosphorus as a nucleus, 
which starts the oxygenating process and prevents the 
amorphous matter from becoming chrystallizable; genera- 
tion then arises, when life comes. 
The soil of the earth with its environment generates the 
specie. The soil furnished by the female during fruition is 
merely an elevated state of the soil of the earth. The 
chlorophyllian function of the plant is to break asunder the 
bonds holding carbon and oxygen together, appropriating 
to itself part of the carbon upon which its growth of 
substance depends. The function of the higher animals 
is to feed upon and transform the matter of their 
environment into the substance of their own bodies. 
The demand made upon fungi, by the agencies acting upon 
them, compels them to abstract from their environment that 
which institutes fermentation, reproduction going on during 
their activity, causing more of the same kind of bodies to 
appear. This will in a measure explain the phenomena of 
reproduction as far as fermentation is concerned. 
The synthetical process of building up belongs essentially 
to the carbo-hydrates, and the analytical or splitting up process 
belongs essentially to the mineral or inorganic kingdom, again 
making the distinction between the organic and the inorgan- 
ic in a chemical point of view. The synthetic generators are 
the first known builders, the lowest order of living units pos- 
sessing the power to transform the inorganic into the organic. 
The lowest order of reproduction is manifested and carried 
on by these units imbibing and transforming the matter of 
their environment. This is where generation commenced; 
not from one unit in particular, but from an infinite number 
of units at one and the same time, as there are many different 
types of synthetic generators, after which generation con- 
tinued in its evolutional course of differentiation for the pro- 
duction of higher species. 
Since there is only one kind of matter in nature, modified 
by the potentialities before mentioned, there can be no limi- 13 
tation to the production of differences as a consequence, 
except in the case of a perfect crystal, as we have reached 
the limitation of morphological inorganic differentiation 
when the type of crystal is produced. In evolution differ- 
entiation arises and is without limitation, there being no end 
to the production of differences. The phenomena of evo- 
lution and crystallization are distinct and different. Crystal- 
lization is limited, but evolution is continually active. The 
limitation of morphological perfection is reached by crys- 
tallization, but has not been reached in the process of evo- 
lution, although the possibilities of evolution are apparent 
by the improvement going on. 
Since the vegetable lives to a certain extent upon what 
the animal throws off, there must of necessity exist a neutral 
point between them, such a point as we find in the neutral 
point between the poles of a battery, where we find neither 
one nor the other form of electricity, that is, neither positive 
nor negative. Biologists are at a loss to know today where 
the vegetable unit ends and where the animal unit begins in 
the process of evolution. This, indeed, would furnish us 
with a knowledge of the missing link in this region of biol- 
ogy. Now, if units exist that arise de novo from the neutral 
point, we have a positive certainty of the reason why there 
can be no distinction between them. One degree removed 
each way from the neutral point would produce the zoo- 
phyte and by chemical and morphological differentiation a 
distinction is ultimately reached between the animal and the 
vegetable unit or cell. The distinction between the animal 
and the vegetable came at the time that the first living body, 
in the form of a colonization of cells, obtained the power to 
locomote in mass and at will. 
Nature requires motion in animal bodies before locomo- 
tion can take place, the force and power being taken from 
the food and air which are the necessary dependents of the 
animal for its degree of motion. Since action and reaction, 
and motion to and fro, are essential to the splitting up of 
the pabulum and returning of the excreta to the external 
world, we have absolute authority for the origin of that flex- 
ibility and viscosity necessary to associate the crystal with 14 
the colloid. This is the first necessity for the institution 
of motion which is indispensable to all animation, that is, 
intrinsic and extrinsic motion, or the taking in of matter 
from the environment, its conversion and the waste matter 
after conversion returned to whence it came, as taking 
in, elevating and returning is the function necessary before 
reproduction can take place. Successive impulses trans- 
mitted and absorbed give to bodies the power to loco- 
mote. These influences must be rhythmical or regular in 
their progression, the volitional continuity of which enables 
them .to transport themselves bodily from one place to 
another. 
I have discovered nitrogen to be the originator of loco- 
motion, as in the absence of nitrogen locomotion does not 
take place, nor can it be made to take place. Nitrogen is an 
element possessing much more electrical potentiality than any 
other element in nature, which institutes the power of loco- 
motion in all animal bodies either by direct or indirect 
transmission and modification. It is not the vivifying power 
of oxygen, but the explosive power of nitrogen that origin- 
ates locomotion. Now, by the rhythmitical explosions of ni- 
trogen the respiratory process originates and continues, 
which is the cause of that motion in nutrition, such as the 
taking in of the essentials for vivification and the removal of 
the waste and worn out matter that is not required in the 
economy. Nitrogen, which is supposed to be the most in- 
dolent thing in nature, is the most powerful essential to the 
movement of all bodies. Since explosions are consequent 
upon the instantaneous liberation of nitrogen, we can, by 
modifying the speed of the elimination of nitrogen from any 
compound, modify the explosive power of that compound; 
and in the process of respiration, upon which animals de- 
pend for their ability to breath and locomote, we must un- 
derstand that there has been a modification of the explo- 
sions of nitrogen until they have become rhythmical and 
continuous. In all instances of explosion, where the pro- 
pulsion of units one from another takes place, the explosion 
is a measure of the force exerted in producimg it. The ni- 
trogenous series of medical treatment are more directed to 15 
the nerve centres than to any other part of the body, and 
a* the nerve centres originate the incentive to locomotion, 
you see that nitrogen is required for locomotion, and where 
we get nitrogen, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen complexly 
arranged for the association of life, we have all those essen- 
tials necessary for the purpose of locomotion. Intrinsic 
motion arises and is sustained by the nitrogenous series 
combined with the carbo-hydrates making perfect pabulum 
necessary, which must contain nitrogen, carbon, oxygen and 
hydrogen. 
Nitrogen is also required as a controlling agent to 
prevent rapid reduction of tissue. It is quite evident 
that nitrogen does prevent tissue reduction, as it controls 
the oxidizing process during the combustion of tissue. 
Urea being formed at all times during physiological func- 
tionality shows nitrogen compounds in the excrement, indi- 
cating an increase or decrease in the speed of burning or 
combustion of the body. What would the result be without 
the interposition of nitrogen? Consumption of tissue with- 
out compensation. Nitrogen controls chemical action during 
the process of reproduction and enables the body to con- 
tinue functionality to the end of the organizing process, 
which culminates in the separation of the vital from the 
chemical. By the above it will be seen that it is not the 
vivifying power of oxygen, but of nitrogen, from which the 
generative and reproductive processes originate and 
continue. 
What the other chemicals do in the economy requires to 
be understood, in order to find out how far they contribute 
towards tissue change. Carbon is always found in the 
formation of the colloid, as it is a carbon compound and 
associates with the crystalloid to .promote functionality by 
its gradational combustion by oxygen. Where carbon 
dioxide is formed in nature, it is always as a product of 
either slow or rapid combustion. The burning of any 
combustible matter outside of the body is identical with 
the process of combustion that we have in burning the 
body to sustain life, the temperatures only being different. 
The combination of carbon with oxygen in the production of carbon dioxide is identically the same that goes on in 
the body. The formation of water is the same both in and 
outside of the body. The combination of nitrogen and 
hydrogen to form ammonia is the same. The formation of 
sulphuretted and phosphuretted hydrogen is the same. In 
fact, there is no distinction in the chemical combinations of 
the mineral parts of the body, as they are identical with the 
same changes in such compounds going on at all times 
outside of the body. The only difference between the 
organic and the inorganic chemical process is, that the one 
is merely a further elaborated condition of the other, being 
on a higher plane of action, which means a more rationally 
systematic grouping of those elements that are found in 
inorganic nature; so that the whole process of organization 
is not vital, but absolutely and exclusively chemical. In the 
reduction of the necessary incentives to oxidation, that 
should be found in the body of man, life is endangered. 
I have shown that the vital meets the chemical, when 
elevated to the organic state which is purely chemical, 
everything being accounted for in that process, nothing 
more being desired but a positive or practical knowledge 
that there is no distinction. The foregoing has rendered it 
sufficiently clear that there is no difference whatever 
between organic and inorganic matter, the one being only 
a higher plane of the other, that is, further elaborated to 
the necessity for living association. 17 
Part 11. 
It is admitted by all advanced pathologists that a correct 
appreciation of the morphology or structure of malignant 
growths is of the first and greatest importance as a prelude 
to the study of the cause of malignancy. This is my 
reason for going into the minutia of its pathological histol- 
ogy as well as the physiological morphology of every part 
in which malignancy arises. Tumors of different types, 
arising from what is known as vestiges and rests, arise from 
the same incentives as malignancy in other parts. This 
paper is not concerned with the location of malignancy in 
any part of the body, as that is left for clinical in- 
vestigation to determine, but is concerned altogether with 
the cause and cure of malignancy. Therefore I have not 
found it necessary to go into that infinity of chemical 
formulation usually exhausted in every recognized work on 
physiological chemistry. I have entered altogether into the 
essentials only for the purpose of this paper, leaving it to 
those who are interested to examine the works on physio- 
logical chemistry for further facts not herein referred to. 
Chemical differentiation within the physiological limita- 
tion of functionality goes on with biological evolution in the 
production of species, chemical differentiation being under 
the control of the physical agencies of nature, while evolu- 
tion is concerned with vital formations. The productions of 
those differences where physiological limitation ceases in 
normal tissue leads us to question all processes of animation 
beyond this point for a knowledge of how and where 
pathological differentiation .commences. In order to 
understand what any disease is we must be well acquainted 
with normal tissue formations. 
Organization is instituted and continues in the generative 
process by analytical and synthetical operations, leading to 
the facts observed in normal histology. In physiological 
histology, we must understand that there are two important 18 
factors at work in the construction of normal tissue, the al- 
buminoids of protoplasm which are colloids and crystal- 
loids. Normal differentiation must take place in these two 
factors, in the absence of which normal tissue cannot be pro- 
duced. Now, in abnormal tissue formations these two 
factors are also at work in the production of all those 
changes that give rise to disease. 
The units of living bodies are always the same in charac- 
ter, function and chemical composition, from the first unit 
or speck of living jelly-like substance, to the highest aggre- 
gate of such units found in the body of man. Man’s body 
represents the highest order of complexity of matter in the 
process of evolution, and is the present culmination of 
evolution, his formation being the result of a differentiation 
of one kind of matter, by the forces of nature pent up as 
potentialities in it. 
The amoebae so resemble the units composing the differ- 
ent organs of the body, that they appear to be the essential 
requirements for the production of all aggregates or types 
of existence. The amoeba is the simplest element in nature, 
and is called by some the first atom of organic nature. I 
am inclined to believe that they are the ultimate elements 
formed in nutrition and after formation, they pass into those 
tissues, which have an affinity for them, and thus by their ag- 
gregation constitute the organs of the body. As the 
already existing cells of the organs gradationally pass away, 
others are ascending into the region from whence they de- 
parted, and so, by a continuous functional elevation, each 
unit or cell is produced and carried away, in the function of 
organic formation. 
As the units forming a crystal march into place, under 
those peculiar influences directing its formation, so like in- 
fluences direct the formation of the organic complexity of 
the human body. Everything not only taking its allotted 
place, but afterwards forming and transforming, and still 
holding its position and relative importance in the animal 
body. 
The formulation of animal starch is the most important 
function of the animal body. After its complete elabora- 19 
tion, it breaks down by chemical transformation, until it is 
returned by the successive stages of splitting up to whence 
it came, to the inorganic region again. It is the office of 
the stomach and intestines to abstract and transform the 
matter of ingesta into the proteids and peptones, necessary 
to form the matter of nutrition. 
Among the chief formed elements are the red and white 
corpuscles of the blood. Normal blood is formed by the 
products of synthesis and analysis, and is the fluid containing 
the matter to be assimilated by organic synthesis, each cell 
taking from the blood its own particular matter for further 
conversion. The blood is an irrigating fluid containing, not 
only the matter of formation, but the fertilizers for the differ- 
ent cells of the body. - The function of the already formed 
cells is manifested in selecting their special matter of supply, 
for conversion into protoplasm, from the carbo-hydrates and 
nitrogeneous compounds contained in the food. 
The highly elaborated material of cells are the enzymes 
or products of ferments, which leads us to investigate their 
importance, in producing normal as well as abnormal tissue. 
The cells of the body appear to take their food somewhat 
in the same way that the ferments in chemical transforma- 
tion take theirs, such as when splitting up sugar into alcho- 
hol and carbonic anhydride, in the vinous fermentation by 
the yeast fungi. I have found that the food, taken from the 
matter of solution to be split up by the fungi, constitutes the 
process of fermentation and the product of fermentation is its 
excreta. We may liken the whole human body to a coloni- 
zation of fungi, which is normal when its physiological func- 
tionality goes on uninterruptedly, each fungus or cell 
changing its environment into itself and the products of its 
excreta. On this ground, the whole body of man lives by 
the joint ferments of his own structure, each one in the form 
of a cell contributing its function after colonization thus sus- 
taining the edifice, any revolt in the colonies, by their refusal 
to contribute their part to normal functionality, producing di- 
sease. The greatest revolt of the units produces malignancy. 
Normal integrity requires that the colloids and the 
crystalloids of the body shall respond to chemical integrity, 20 
and since these are what the normal construction and 
activity of the tissues depend upon, we must investigate by 
every possible means for a knowledge of the cause of 
departure of any one of them from its chemical integrity, a 
continuity of which would end either in producing diseases 
of self-limitation or the extreme of disorganization, which 
extreme would be the highest order of malignancy. 
It is quite evident that normal tissue cannot be formed, in 
the absence of what the cells would naturally select and 
appropriate, in continuing normal organization in every part 
of the body. Here we have absolute certainty of differenti- 
ation arising, if foreign matter be appropriated by the cells 
of a part. The cause of differentiation arises from the 
nature of that which is appropriated or retained, which 
interrupts normal functionality. Malignancy is a peculiar 
differentiation of tissue, which evidences the type of 
departure from normal formation, and is produced by an 
incumbrance to normal organization. The degrees of 
malignancy indicate the degrees of departure from the 
normal state to the extreme of pathological degeneration. 
How far protoplasm can transform, and still be within the 
physiological limitation of functionality, is the question to 
decide as to where pathological differentiation commences. 
When differentiation manifests itself sufficiently to interfere 
with organization, structural changes commence and 
continue. The quality of tissue varies in accordance with 
its matter of supply. When the units or cells are normally 
active and relative, there is a certain viscosity manifested in 
them, as in all the other soft parts of the body. An 
alteration of the normal viscosity, in any of these parts, will 
evidence either an increase or a reduction of the con- 
sistency of such parts. The phenomena of tumefaction 
must be explained from this fact. The cause of alteration 
of consistency above or below the normal as well as 
structural change, formed the groundwork of investigation 
as to the origin of malignant and non-malignant diseases. 
Modifications in the proximate principles and colloids of 
nutrition are the factors producing structural change in tissue. 
An abnormal differentiation of the albuminoid or colloid 21 
must take place, in order to furnish the different types of 
malignant growths. When the colloid and the crystalloid 
are perfectly in harmony with each other, we have the 
normal integrity of tissues. When differentiation arises in 
the one, the other must also differentiate. This is what I 
define as disease. 
When the viscosity and flexibility of the colloid keeps 
within the limitation of functionality, we have normal 
•consistency of the different organs or parts of the body. An 
increase of the consistency of any tissue beyond this limita- 
tion produces induration or hardening. In carcinoma of a 
schirrus type, we have the crystalline matter of the tissues 
cnroaching upon colloid movement, by crowding the animal 
matter out of the colloid, something like the way in which 
vacuolation and substitution takes place in cells, during 
degenerations in different parts of the body. Now, if 
movement within a given limitation is the function of the 
colloid, furnished by its degrees of viscosity and flexibility, 
we can see at once why the crowding out of amorphous 
mineral matter and the substitution of crystalline matter 
increases the consistency of organs or parts. The normal 
balance of internal respiration of cells in the human being 
is maintained by a temperature of about 98.5 degrees 
Fahrenheit. An elevation of a few degrees beyond this 
temperature produces fever, by increasing the speed of the 
respiration of cells, by which we have more rapid metabol- 
ism at the expense of a gradational reduction of vitality in 
their reproductory power; this would if continued produce, 
by over stimulation, necrosis or death of the cell, and in fact 
of the whole body, if carried very far beyond the physiological 
limitation of their functionality. In single or double pneu- 
monia, the crystalline matter, such as chloride of sodium, 
etc., diminishes in the urine, as the induration or hardening 
of the lungs is increasing, showing the encroachment of cry- 
stalline matter upon the function of rhythmical motion by 
substitution. The same encroachment also occurs in cal- 
careous infiltration of the muscular tissue of the heart and 
blood vessels. Cerebro spinal sclerosis or hardening of 
neurolgia or nerve tissues and other parts of the brain and 22 
spinal cord, afford other instances of the above mentioned 
encroachment of crystalline matter upon colloid consistency 
and functionality. In the case of softening, such as we find 
in carcinoma of an encephaloid type, we find crystalline mat- 
ter decreasing and at the same time diminishing the con- 
sistency of tissue, the cells, losing their reproductory power, 
become necrosed and break down, the sloughing of tissue 
being a consequence. When the vitality of the cell is 
so reduced that it has lost its reproductory power, 
then we have necrosis and sloughing of tissue, known in 
carcinoma and sarcoma. In all instances of hardening 
of tissue, the colloid is incumbered by the infiltration 
and substitution of crystalline matter, and where softening 
occurs the opposite takes place. 
If there be an incentive to interrupt the necessary changes, 
going on in the production of all those proteids required 
and found in the composition of healthy protoplasm, 
we have disease. This would arise either from a change of 
the matter of supply, producing degeneration, or from a 
chemical and physical alteration, arising from the disturbing 
incentive, producing changes of tissue. Every differentia- 
tion producing disease has its particular impetus, which 
arises in both the colloid and the crystalloid. The phen- 
omena of malignancy is complete in itself, and is distinct for 
a very limited time from normal operations, going on in the 
system in which it originated, and by which it is sustained, 
so long as it remains local. 
A perversion of the forces, controlling normal changes 
of the tissues, is the cause of abnormal transformation, such 
as we find in all growths of different types, from the benign 
to the most malignant. If these agencies, which have be- 
come perverted till they form a malignant tumor, be made 
by medication to become normally active, the tumor reduces 
in size and ultimately passes away, the passing away merely 
meaning readjustment of the cell’s elements to their nor- 
mal condition and relative position, by instituting the nor- 
mal agencies. Those agencies which form crystals, in the 
absence of vitality, are the same agencies that control 
tissue formation in all accretions of particular units, found 
in diseases of the type of malignant tumors. 23 
A malignant growth of whatever type is produced by a 
specific change, brought about by a particular impetus, the 
presence of which is manifested by a change in the internal 
structure and relative position of the units or cells of a 
particular part of the body, producing colloid fungation in 
the form of carcinoma and sarcoma of different types. 
This impetus acts upon the nucleus and protoplasm of the 
cell. Abnormal cell formation is dependent upon these in- 
fluences, that come to the nucleus and protoplasm of the 
cell, changing the determinants and biophors in cell prolif-' 
eration. The stroma and multinuclear cell, with prolifera- 
tion of free nuclei, is the typical indication of malignancy, 
and their presence may be assumed to be an abortive effort 
on their part to reproduce themselves, as indicated by the 
additional number of nuclei in each particular cell, and free 
nuclei outside of the cell. This is the cause of the break- 
ing of the barrier of normal limitation, as malignancy pro- 
ceeds. The extent and speed of tissue transformation is 
a measure of the height of the malignancy of the part. 
The oxidation of phosphorus is one of the chief chemi- 
cal and physical functions of normal cellular tissue change. 
This is why phosphorus in its crude state is found in the 
nuclein of the cell nucleus. Now, if by any means there 
be not sufficient crude phosphorus abstracted from the dif- 
ferent foods containing it, the cell must suffer for want of 
that which forms it nucleus, in which the vitality of the cell 
resides. Phosphorus is the nearest chemical in nature to 
life and the most indispensable to the cell’s existence. The 
oxidation of phosphorus continues during animation and 
goes on till the process is at an end, and if it were not for 
the continued production of phosphorus in a cell, the cell 
life would come to an end. The chemical function of 
oxidizing phosphorus, through the agency of nitrogen, is 
the chief essential in the process of reproduction. In these 
as formed elements and compounds we have the differentia- 
tion of tissue, that arises in the fungating process. The 
appropriation of carbon, in addition to phosphoric acid, 
constitutes the essential for vegetating growths. 24 
I have discovered that the specific impetus producing 
malignancy is in the form of a nitrogenous enzyme, which 
does not leave the cell during normal metabolism, a reten- 
tion of which institutes fungation or malignant degenera- 
tion, by preventing the normal elimination of phosphoric 
acid, derived from the oxidation of the crude phosphorus 
contained in the body and nuclein of the cell. This nitro- 
genous enzyme, that is retained instead of being excreted, 
differentiates, by mal-appropriation, the tissue into the 
growth of whatever type, by causing the retention of phos- 
phoric acid that should be eliminated during normal cell 
metabolism. Phosphoric acid interrupts the oxidation of 
crude phosphorus, and fungation of spongeoplasm at once 
takes place, which gives rise to malignant carcinoma and 
also sarcoma. 
By abstracting the enzyme, acting upon the normal cell 
nucleus and protoplasm, we cut off the power that insti- 
tutes differentiation, after which we aid nature in transform- 
ing the differentiating units to their normal standard condi- 
tion again. 
The removal of disease consists in promoting the grada- 
tional return of the tissues, that have departed from integrity, 
to their normal standard condition. I propose to show how 
this differentiation can be arrested and malignancy removed, 
by the restoration of chemism. The term chemism, when 
referred to the whole body or any of its parts, means that 
the colloids and crystalloids must possess the normal pro- 
portion of those elements and compounds necessary to their 
formation. Disease should be defined as the first degree 
of departure, from whatever cause, from normal chemism. 
When we remove disease by the restoration of chemism, 
every fluid and solid must be made to respond to physio- 
logical integrity. This is to be accomplished by chemical 
formulation. 
The regressive chemical transformation of the cell con- 
tents producing malignancy must be understood, before we 
can make clear the therapeutic action of the formulae re- 
moving malignancy. This can be done only by following 
degeneration from the healthy state of the cells to the malig- 25 
nant state of protoplasm. The whole process is essentially 
one of gradational vacuolation and substitution of the malig- 
nant essentials. In order to follow intelligibly the succes- 
sive changes going on in the metabolism of cells, it presup- 
poses a familarity with the physiological chemistry of tissue 
formation. Malignancy of the cells could not take place in 
the absence of that incentive, differentiating its structure and 
its matter of supply, furnished by nutrition, which is the in- 
centive that alters the metabolic function of the cell, making 
it produce a foreign body or type of malignancy. In fol- 
lowing the course of the disease, from its incipiency to its 
termination, I have had some opportunities to experiment in 
formulating its cure. I have had but few such opportunities, 
because most of my cases have been far advanced before 
applying to me for relief or treatment, holding me in reserve, 
as it were, as a last resort, after surgeons of distinction had 
operated on them. This will explain the number of cases 
which I have lost from time to time, before completing the 
formulation ot a cure for malignancy. 
The treatment and cure of malignancy consists in aiding 
the elimination of foreign matter, in addition to purging the 
cell of its nitrogenous enzyme. Since the typical cells of 
higher organization are the result of the differentiation of 
so many different kinds of cells, found everywhere in animat- 
ed nature, they are susceptible to taking on almost any of 
the forms through which they have passed during their 
evolutional course. Given the pabulum and other favorable 
surroundings, and the change of type of a structure arises. 
This is why degeneration into malignancy takes place from 
a change in pabulum and environment, together with the 
spermatic power of the cells known in reproduction. The 
direct evidence of the successful treatment of malignancy 
must consist in promoting the complete elaboration of gly- 
cogen, which is the so-called animal starch, into what is 
really animal starch and is found most completely formed 
as animal starch in the nerve substance of the body. After 
its complete formation, medical treatment should be directed 
to its complete transformation through successive stages, till 
returned to the inorganic region again, viz: first animal 26 
sarcodeinto the starch forming it, then into animal cellulose, 
then glycogen, fat, and the crystallizable mineral matter, till 
the end producing the detritus for excreta. 
The first part of the treatment consists in arresting the 
disease, so that the first two formulae given are for this pur- 
pose, and are continued for from fourteen to twenty-eight 
days, in accordance with the extent of the disease and the 
parts involved. The dose of the first formula is from 
five to thirty drops, in a table-spoonful of water, night and 
morning, one hour after eating. The dose of the second is 
twenty drops, in a table-spoonful of water, one hour after the 
middle meal. The next formula, following the expiration of 
twenty-eight days, is to aid the work done, by resolving the 
tissue into the healthy state again, and is altogether differ- 
ent from the first, and is of tonic nature. The dose of this 
third formula is thirty drops, in a table-spoonful of water, one 
hour after eating, three times a day. The duration of treat- 
ment will cover from six to nine months, according to the 
stage of advancement of the case. 
The formulae for the treatment and cure of malignant 
growths can be furnished directly by me to any physician 
of scientific standing, also to any of the Hospitals in the 
United States recognized as regular institutions. I will 
furnish sufficient of the remedies required for trial at my 
own expense, but I think I am justified in reserving the 
right to hold the formulae till the Medical Profession, after 
seeing the results obtained, testify that everything has 
proved to their satisfaction, and as I have represented in my 
paper of announcement, at which time I shall take the 
greatest pleasure of my life in presenting the complete 
formulae, with the method of their preparation, to the Med- 
ical Profession throughout the World. 
WILLIAM THORNTON, 
3 Hamilton Plate, 
Boston, Mass., U. S. A. WHAT THE PRESS AND THE PROFESSION SAY 
OP THE 
PHILOSOPHY OF THE THREE ETHERS. 
By DR. WILLIAM THORNTON. 
1 Vol. 16mo. Cloth, 100 pp. Price $1.25. 
Copies will be mailed to any part of the United States free of postage upon 
receipt of price. 
FOR SALE BY 
Sc UPHAM, 
OLD CORNER BOOKSTORE. 283 Washington St.. Boston, Mass. 
The following extracts are from some of the reviews of this much discussed 
and remarkable hook. 
So plainly does it present the essential difference between life and matter that 
it promises valuable helps towards unravelling the mysteries of disease. * * * 
—Boston Doily Advertiser, Feb. 5, 1892. 
Readable and suggestive all the way through.— Virginia Medical Monthly. 
His book is full of interest and suggestion to all physicians. He is motived by 
enthusiasm for the perfection of the science of medicine, which all physicians 
grant is still afar off; he is anxious to direct their investigations “towards such 
discoveries that would enable them to extend that intolerable boundary beyond the 
so-called incurable diseases.” Most interesting are the results of his studies 
towards the prolonging of bodily vigor and of life itself.— The Boston Bilot, Oct. 
31, 1891. 
This little book has been written with the laudable purpose of showing that the 
mysteries of disease can not only be unravelled by scientific means, but also that 
science furnishes the means of curing the so-called incurable diseases which have, 
up to the present time, bathed the most skilful men of the medical profession. * * 
* * * We feel sure that the day is not far distant when the medical world will 
follow out this line of investigation, and the dread in which we now live of those 
so-called incurable diseases shall no longer haunt us, but a knowledge of the laws 
controlling the body shall enable us to stay the diseases which have so long ruled 
supreme throughout the world.—Boston Transcript, March 9, 1892. 
We can assure our readers of an interesting afternoon in reading the volume.— 
Buffalo Medical and Surgical Journal. 
The work * * * has much high, fine thought. * * * —The Religio-Philos- 
ophical Journal, Chicago, 111. 
Among other things, the author apparently proves that the germ theory of dis- 
ease is untenable, instituting instead the transmission theory of disease. His argu- 
ments are ingenious, charmingly written, and the book is one of great interest. 
—Medical Record, New York. 
What Dr. Thornton has to say upon the germ theory is very interesting, espe- 
cially as it is dated April, 1891, before the recent changes in position of tbe advo- 
cates of this theory.— The Boston Herald. 
This volume will be found worth a careful reading, particularly the chapters 
devoted to the “philosophy of the three ethers” and “how to make medicine a 
science.” Iu fact the whole essay is written in graceful language, and the theories 
of which the author treats and applies to medical science, are extremely enticing. 
* # # # To thoroughly appreciate the idea of tbe book, it must be carefully 
perused, since space will not here permit even a clear synopsis of thought 
advanced.—Medical and Surgical Reporter, Philadelphia, Pa. 
This little work deserves the careful attention of all who desire to make medicine 
a science.— The Medical Brief, New York and St. Louis. 
The author is a thinker and has developed a grand philosophy that stimulates 
and braces the faculties. Such a philosophy is ennobling and at the same time 
practical. * * * This little book is calculated to let a little of the light of truth 
fall in on the mind absorbed in external things, and should occupy an important 
sohere, and perform a great use. We trust the work will be extensively read.—The 
Medical Visitor, Chicago, 111. 
The book is excellent reading and a stimulation to thought. We believe any one 
with an inquiring turn of mind will feel amply repaid for reading it.— Toledo Medi- 
cal Compend. 
A highly interesting little book. One that gives real pleasure to read.— The 
Medical Free Press, Indianapolis. 
We can commend this work as furnishing interesting material for careful 
thought.— The Southern Practitioner, Nashville, Tenn. 
The book furnishes food for reflection.—Religious Telescope, Dayton, Ohio. 
Written in a reverent spirit, and to those who have to do with the technicalities 
of me licine and of disease, will doubtless be suggestive and profitable.— Christian 
Cynosure, Chicago, 111.