Whose hypothesis? Ciphering, sectorials, D lesions, freckles and the operation of Stigler's Law.

Common references to the famous two-hit hypothesis of tumorigenesis are pervasively erroneous, and the recited tenets of this model vary enormously. Exploration of the history of this model reveals a rich philosophical progression that profited from perceptive observations, clever musings, and rediscoveries by many investigators over a period of decades. The current work is intended to raise the appreciation for this rich history and to address some of the more common errors.