Cancer of the tongue is most often seen between the fourth and sixth decades and is much more common in men than in women. It occurs most frequently on the side of the tongue, but may occur any place. Pathologically, it is practically always of the squamous cell type of carcinoma. Among the etiologic factors, syphilis, and trauma produced by rough teeth and by the use of tobacco are of prime importance.
The variation in the reports of the frequency of syphilis in carcinoma of the tongue, (3.38 per cent., according to Meller, to 84.23 per cent., according to Fournier), is probably in proportion to the incidence of syphilis in the clinics from which the statistics are taken. It is certainly true that a syphilitic lesion may be a precancerous lesion. A gumma, leukoplakia, or chronic syphilitic glossitis may be the starting point of cancer, though the determining factor may