INTRODUCTION.

ONLY a few years since hospital physicians and surgeons of the highest standing, as well as general practitioners, gave the poor sufferers from Cancer who applied to them but one reply, -"Your case is hopeless; we can be of no service

to

you; " and they spoke the truth. Cancer was then looked upon as rare, and the death of those afflicted with it as certain. There were many medical men who had scarcely ever seen a case, and comparatively harmless tumours even in the present day are confounded with Cancer, often from ignorance, and by irregular practitioners frequently from design. If we glance at the columns of the medical press of sixteen or seventeen years ago we shall find few cases recorded, and no rational mode of treatment recommended, with perhaps the exception of the knife. Although a few leading medical men had for some time care

fully studied this malady, so far as their limited field of observation would permit, it was not till the establishment of the Cancer Hospital, seventeen years ago, that the first grand step was taken. Here hundreds of cases are collected from all parts of the world, and a field of observation presented such as cannot be found elsewhere; every variety of the disease and every caprice of its development may here be seen. Malignant growths in infancy, and those advanced to the fearful ulceration of cancer, are made familiar to the eye. The previous history of every patient is taken, all former treatment carefully inquired into, all collateral circumstances accurately noted. To this institution it has been my good fortune to belong since its foundation, and I need hardly say that neither myself nor colleagues have allowed any opportunity to pass unnoticed without learning much concerning the progress and treatment of this disease. It is not my present intention to enter on the general treatment of Cancer, but to draw attention to a practical method, to the development of which I have devoted years of careful observation, and can now confidently recommend. I, however, think it desirable to give a slight sketch of the various forms this disease assumes, and afterwards to point out those to which this mode of treatment may be applied, with hope of success.

I shall also pass under notice those diseases and tumours which may be mistaken for Cancer, to some of which this treatment may also be applied. I divide Cancer into five orders, and some of these present several varieties. Thus :—

ORDER 5. Cystic or Colloid.

Varieties 1. Cystic or colloid, in combination with scirrhus or medullary

cancer.

2. Cystic or colloid, in combination with adenoids, &c. (not cancerous).

3. Cysts, or colloid matter alone (not cancerous).

Besides these five orders there is a disease, although strictly speaking not cancerous, viz., lupus (rodent ulcer), almost as malignant and destructive. Tumours are also met with, which cannot be classed under any particular head, many not being malignant, others running from one variety to another, or exhibiting the characteristics of even two or more at the same time.

Cancer attacks females in preference to males, in the ratio of about five to one, scirrhus being the most frequent enemy of the former, epithelial of the latter; each sex is also more liable to the disease in one region than another. To illustrate all these points, I cannot do better than give the following table, derived from the records of the Cancer Hospital, since its foundation :

STATISTICAL STATEMENT OF PATIENTS RECEIVED FROM THE COMMENCEMENT, IN THE YEAR 1851, UP ΤΟ THE 31ST DECEMBER, 1867.

Of the Out-Patients discharged with disease arrested or relieved..

Cured by constitutional and local treatment..

Discontinued attendance in consequence of residing at too great a distance from London, or unable to attend from some other cause

Died at their own residences

At present under treatment

Of the In-Patients discharged with disease arrested or relieved..

Treated by operation, and discharged cured..

Successfully treated without operation, and discharged cured

Died

In Hospital at the end of the year

Total

1,563

582

2,427

463

544

1,317

131

138

243

38

7,446