CHEMOTHERAPY of cutaneous cancer and precanceroses has received slight attention in the past. Sherwell's method1of treating basal cell tumors by curettage followed by the application of mercuric nitrate enjoyed a degree of popularity for a while and is still used occasionally by a few dermatologists. Recently, Mohs2advocated a technic utilizing an old remedy, zinc chloride, in which successive applications are made and the tumor tissue fixed by the drug is removed and studied microscopically before each new application. Both these methods depend on nonselective destruction of tissue. The work of Kaplan3and others on the successful treatment of condyloma acuminata with resin of podophyllum and the studies of Sullivan and King4on the microscopic changes resulting from the use of colchicine and resin of podophyllum caused us to wonder about the practicability of employing these drugs in the treatment of epithelial growths