CHAPTER IV.

VARIOUS TREATMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN

RECOMMENDED.

To the unfortunate individual suffering from cancer, all the preceding information sinks into insignificance, in comparison with the question, Can you cure me of my cancer? This opens out a new, vast, and important field, which, with the reader's kind permission, I will proceed at once to discuss.

Since the remote period at which medicine and surgery first were studied as sciences, up to the present time, the chirurgeon has more or less directed his efforts, to find a cure for this disease, but up to within a very recent period, these labours had been carried on in an unsystematic manner, and those pursuing them had such a limited field of observation to work upon, that but small results were to be expected, and small indeed they were. Up to the year 1851 few of our celebrated surgeons had turned their atten

tion seriously and earnestly to the study of it, but their efforts were cramped, the cases coming under their notice being few and far between, presenting no opportunity of constantly watching the various forms of cancer, the ever-changing character of each particular case, or of distinguishing with anything like certainty, which is of such paramount importance, between some harmless tumours and the most deadly cancers. All praise is due, however, to these men for their noble efforts to benefit their fellow-beings, and for their zeal and energy in a task so difficult. Everyone will agree with me, that the first step to be taken for the proper investigation of an obscure and terrible disease, is to bring together for continued observation as large a number of cases as possible. The old adage, "Practice makes perfect," is, in the study of cancer, to a certain extent applicable, for he who, with the usual amount of knowledge, has constantly under his observation dozens of cases, must in a short period gain such experience regarding them as cannot be hoped for by one not possessing such advantages. It was to attain this end, that at an advanced period of life, in the year 1851, Dr. Marsden, for a second time, determined to found a hospital, in this instance for the treatment of cancer; and, like his first effort, by the blessing of God, it has been crowned with success, such as he alone antici

pated. These two glorious institutions, "The Royal Free Hospital," founded on the principle that poverty and disease are the only passports for admission required, and "The Cancer Hospital," stand in the front rank amongst the noble institutions of our country, and are the best monuments to their founder's memory.

Since 1851 nearly 6,000 cases of cancer have been under treatment and my own immediate observation, and nearly 1,000 more of a doubtful character sent to the hospital as cancer, to which may be added a large number of cases in my own private practice. Well, then, surgeons of the Cancer Hospital, out of this vast field what have discovered? Have you you found the specific for cancer? Have you rendered the disease no longer terrible? Alas! to the two latter of these questions I candidly answer, No; but to the first I can with pleasure and sincerity say, Much. We have discovered how, with almost unerring certainty, to distinguish at the patient's side true cancer from false. We have discovered a better method of treating true cancers, a method certainly resulting in longer life, and far less discomfort to the patient; in many cases we have discovered means of perfectly arresting the disease, and many more have been sent out of our hands, so far as time can show, cured.

The valuable statistical table, page 14, has

occupied a period of seventeen years in formation. Every new patient on coming to the hospital is entered in the medical register of the institution, the previous history and present condition of their case taken, and their treatment and progress recorded from time to time; the answers given given by each by each patient to the following questions being recorded in the casebooks kept for that purpose.

Thus:

Any Relations affected. Yes, mother died of cancer.

If complicated with any} No.

other disease

[Here follows the treatment adopted at each visit.]

From these records of cases in the hospital, and those attending as out-door patients, it will at once be seen what care has been taken to ensure accurate statistics, thus enabling us to compare the results of various treatments with the view of discovering the best.

In the treatment of this disease, I cannot lay too much stress on the importance of being able at an early period, to determine between malignant tumours and non-malignant; for if the patient place herself under the care of a practitioner unable to do this, it is obvious that she labours under a great disadvantage, as his treatment must not only be guess-work, but may, and in all probability will, result in great damage; perhaps converting a simple case into one of most serious importance. There is more mischief done by the application of strong and stimulating ointments, liniments, &c., to incipient cancers, (these being sometimes mistaken for harmless tumours,) than can well be imagined, even by surgeons taking a high place in their profession.

From time to time, in the treatment of cancer, all kinds and sorts of substances have been recommended, and by the unscrupulous puffed off as specifics. Amongst other things that have at some period or other been believed in, I may mention cod-liver oil, mercury in various forms, iodine, iodide of potassium, bromine, arsenic, bark, soda, potash, sarsaparilla, hemlock, opium, morphia,