The Normal, the Pathological and Cancer. Theories on Tumours in Nineteenth Century Medicine

Abstract

Between 1830 and 1850, there was a broad discussion about the »true nature« of tumours, their relation to the body and their parasitic character. According to the paradigm of physiological pathology it was necessary to relate neoplasms to the principles of normal life and growth. On the other hand there was still a strong impulse to alienate the tumour, making it a true parasite of the body. The article refers to different concepts of tumours as developed by Johannes Müller (1801-1859), Ferdinand Jahn (1804-1859), and Rudolf Virchow (1821-1901) in order to investigate the ambivalent status of neoplasms between the normal and the pathological.