The old methods of treating cancer compared with the new / by John Pattison.

  • Pattison, John
Date:
[1857]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The old methods of treating cancer compared with the new / by John Pattison. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    15/40 (page 15)
    ■\Vlicii we see Iluvl sucli iiwful consequences result from the lung use of this poison, although given in minute doses, in some cases ])i'oduced in a lew months, in other cases not produced untd after its continued use for years (but always sure to take place), the question arises, ” Is any surgeon justitied in giving this poison for any length of time even if it does cure such a disease as cancer ?” Chloride of zinc has been used as frequently as arsenic, and (’hloridcof safety, but its introduction as a zinc. remedial agent in this disease, is of comparative modern date. It was first used in rianicc by M.iM. Ilanck and Canquoin, and in this country by Mr. Alexander Urc.—I'lie latter gentleman records two cases of cure by this agent, which were ])erraanent; but its application was excruciatingly painful and only successful as related by him in epithelial or superficial cancer. Nitrate of silver (especially in cancer of the tongue) and even quicklime have been extensively used in the treatment silver of this discase, but as they only penetrate to a certain quicklime. give rise to much irritation in all cases, they merely prove misclievious in exciting the malignant diathesis to renewed action. Sulphate of copper has lately been brought into vogue by Sulphate of surgeon of the Cancer Hospital. He u.ses it copper. extensively in cancer of the tongue combined with borax. AVith what safety to the sufferer I have many doubts, as it is very poisonous, and we all know that any application to the tongue must not only be absorbed, but even swallowed. IMr myself, I should hesitate a long time, before I would dare to use it in such cases. A fcAV months ago a paragraph went the rounds of the pro- ^ vincial papers, telling us of the wonderful results Per-Manga- natcofro- produced by the per-manganate of potassa as a caustic for cancer. It was introduced by a surgeon of the Cancer Ifospital. Its success lias been as evanescent as many better things. It Avas fairly tried in one of our large public hospitals, and found to be quite useless,