Copy 1, Volume 2

The study of medicine. Improved from the author's manuscripts, and by reference to the latest advances in physiology, pathology, and practice / [John Mason Good].

  • John Mason Good
Date:
1834
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The study of medicine. Improved from the author's manuscripts, and by reference to the latest advances in physiology, pathology, and practice / [John Mason Good]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    600/704 (page 592)
    Gen. VI. Spec. I. Carcinus vulgaris. Treatment. Sheet-lead in union with rigid compres- sion. Little depend- ence on any measure but extirpation by the knife or cautery. Operation at which stage But even this measure inap- plicable to cancer in in- ternal organs. CL. II-] HEMATICA. [orp. rv. [Mr. Carmichael some years ago strongly recommended the application of preparations of iron to ulcerated cancers, and gave a very interesting account of the good effects which he had’ seen arise trom them. The plan has been repeatedly tried in this country, but its success here has not corresponded with that stated to have resulted from it in Ireland. When a medicine or appli- cation proves successful in the hands of one surgeon, and unsuc- cessful in those of another of equal skill, the inference is, that, if the medicine or application in each case be undoubtedly of similar qualities, but its effccts different, the cases themselves cannot pre- cisely correspond in their nature. No doubt, many alleged specifics - having cured tumours and ulcers, which only somewhat resembled, but were not really cancers. | ; We have already observed that sheets of lead, among other pre- parations of this metal, were applied to the cancer about forty or fifty years ago, and bound over it with some degree‘of pressure. But a pressure of a much severer kind, together with the use of the same metallic sheeting, was employed, a few years ago, by Mr. Young, a fair and impartial trial of whose plan, however, by other surgeons, has completely proved that it is generally more hurtful than beneficial. ; After all, when the cancerous character of the tumour is once decidedly established, little dependence is to be’ placed upon any plan but that of extirpation with caustic or the knife. The actual cautery, as employed by M. Maunoir, of which we shall have to speak more at large when discussing the genus Utcus, may, per- haps, be most advantageously made use of in small cancers of the face; but the knife is the preferable instrument where the organ is large and extensively affected. Mr. Bell advises an early per- the extent of the disease has fully unfolded itself, so that no mor- bid part may be left behind.* Yet some parts may be doubtful even at last, and, wherever there is the least suspicion of this, they should unquestionably be removed along with the more decided portion of the morbid structure. Even this remedy, however, can only apply to exterior organs, or to organs that can be brought down to the surface; for the uterus has been occasionally extirpated with success, but, far more frequently, without any benefit, perhaps from the operation having been postponed till too late. In all other instances, the practice is melancholy from the first. The die is cast, and all we can hope to = eee every 100. Occasionally the proportion of arsenic is increased. to 5 or 6 in 100. When the Baron uses a liquid, or paste, he merely blends the above powder with distilled water, or gum arabic powdered and moistened. When, however, the lotion is employed, 6, 8, 10, or even 12 parts of arsenic may be the propor- tion of it to the calomel. It is chiefly for phagedenic, or inveterate ulcerations about the nose, lips, and face, that Baron Dupuytren has recourse to this heroic remedy, as he calls it. See Lecons Orales de Clinique Chirurgicale, tom. iv. p- 471. et seq. 8vo. Paris, 1834, — En. * The maxim of every surgeon of judgment in the present day, is to recom- mend the removal of every truly cancerous disease as soon as its nature is mani- fest. This proves the general inefliciency of all medicines and local applications, and the dangers resulting from delay, — Ep.