Malignant growths of the alimentary tract

Abstract

During the three years I have been a student of clinical medicine and clinical surgery I have from the first been interested in carcinomata, Especially was my interest in this terrible disease stimulated while in Sir John Fraser's clinic and I saw for the first time how frequently it occurs and how seldom it reaches hospital while still sufficiently localized for surgery to intervene successfully.In choosing a series of six cases of carcinoma I primarily selected the alimentary tract and secondly the upper alimentary tract for the reason that I believe there are certain carcinogenic factors in this area over which we can exercise control such as alcohol ,hot foods etc.In this series my main interest has been in carcinoma of the fore-gut with one case of mid-gut carcinoma more for a contrast as regards etiology, clinical features,etc., than for detailed discussion on malignancy of this section of the alimentary tract.