Abstract
THE letter from Dr. J. R. Howitt in NATURE of August 21, p. 263, appears to be based upon an extraordinary presumption. The liver, in early fœtal life, is large because it is an active blood-forming organ, but Dr. Howitt seems to suppose that it must have some endocrine function relating to growth. If this idea were correct, it would seem rational to presume that it was a growth-accelerating hormone, for the embryo is growing rapidly. Dr. Howitt seems to think that it is a growth-retarding or, at least, a growth-regulating hormone. That the method advocated may have clinical value is, of course, possible, but it is difficult to understand the theoretical basis of the treatment. I have no knowledge of decreased activity of growth in tumours when associated with enlargement of the liver due either to simple hypertrophy or to resumption of its blood-forming activity.
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PINEY, A. Liver Extracts in the Treatment of Malignant Disease. Nature 118, 374 (1926). https://doi.org/10.1038/118374d0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/118374d0
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