Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Human Cancer and the Theory of ‘Cancer Phage’

Abstract

To explain the observed fact that, in England and Wales for ages above fifteen years, the decrease in deaths from phthisis has been exactly compensated by the increase in deaths from cancer1, I have postulated the existence of a Bacillus tuberculosis ‘phage’ which is carcinogenic2. The idea has been followed up in more detail, and several additional relations of cancer and tuberculosis, all of which support the phage concept, have been disclosed.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cherry, T., Med. J. Australia, Oct. 11 (1924); June 6 (1925); Aug. 12 (1933).

  2. Cruickshank, D. B., "Tuberculosis, Cancer and Zinc. An Hypothesis" (Medical Publications, London, 1936).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

CRUICKSHANK, D. Human Cancer and the Theory of ‘Cancer Phage’. Nature 143, 114–115 (1939). https://doi.org/10.1038/143114a0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/143114a0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing