CANCERS DERIVING FROM THE VIRUS PAPILLOMAS OF WILD RABBITS UNDER NATURAL CONDITIONS

The naturally occurring virus papillomas of western cottontail rabbits become malignant occasionally. The cancers derive from the papilloma cells, that is to say from elements already rendered neoplastic by the virus and still infected therewith. Papillomas produced with the virus in jack rabbits and snowshoe rabbits become cancerous in the same way but much more frequently, as is the case in domestic rabbits also. To all three species the virus is foreign. The character of the cancers of the wild rabbits is described and the relation of the virus to them discussed on the basis of experimental findings. The facts support the view that the cancers result from virus variation, this in many instances being but slight.