Observations on Human Beings with Cancer, Maintained at Reduced Temperatures of 75°–90° Fahrenheit

Abstract

During a little more than three years the authors have been interested in observing the effects of reduced temperatures upon embryonal cell growth and activity, especially in its possible application clinically to the cancer field. These observations have included studies upon chick embryos, various forms of plant life and tissue cultures, as well as upon hopeless cases of human cancer. It has been shown by Fay and Henny that the prolonged local application of temperatures of 40°-50° Fahrenheit to human neoplastic lesions resulted regularly in the relief of pain and in reduction of the size of the tumor. In these initial studies, carefully controlled temperature readings by means of an extremely accurate and rapidly recording thermocouple (Henny) were obtained. Subsequently, similar skin temperature readings were made in cases where the entire body temperature was reduced, in an effort to maintain levels at least comparable to those found normally existing in the extremities; i.e., 86°-88° Fahrenheit. The rationale for this procedure is explained on the basis of the comparative infrequency of either primary or secondary neoplastic lesions below the elbows or knees, where the only apparent difference from other portions of the body lies in the lower temperature existant. It was felt that this level of approximately 90° Fahrenheit must represent a subcritical level in respect to embryonal cell