CANCER AND THE COAL-TAR PRODUCTS.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sue,—May I have space for a brief reply to Mr. A. M. Samuel ? The importance of the subject must be my excuse. The only way in which coal or any of its derivatives can produce cancer is-by giving rise to local irritation. Drugs, such as aspirin and salicylates, which are derived from coal-tar, have undergone.
complete change in the course of manufacture, and are no longer irritating ; in fact, many have soothing properties. As regards paraffin, which, incidentally, is not derived from coal-tar, only the crude oil can possibly cause irritation, and the refined oil, which alone is used internally, is free from these properties ; in fact, it is used in medicine largely for its soothing effect. The public, therefore, need have no appre- hension in regard to the preparations your correspondent
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