The arrest of growth in four cases of cancer by a powerful interrupted voltaic current / by J. Inglis-Parsons.

  • Parsons, J. Inglis, 1857-1928.
Date:
1889
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The arrest of growth in four cases of cancer by a powerful interrupted voltaic current / by J. Inglis-Parsons. 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.

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    beginning of March, eight months after the first application showed no signs of recurrence it is, of course, possible that this may occur, because I did not at that time feel sufficiently- sure of my ground to increase the current beyond 400 milliamperes. With the second patient, who has heart disease, the quiescent state of the nodule in the axilla ever since it was first treated, six months ago, with full force of 600 milliamperes, compared with the renewal of activity in the older portion of the growth in the breast, where it was only possible to use 300 milliamperes, is very striking, because, as a rule, at this stage of the disease the growth is usually most virulent and active in the secondary formations. The advanced stage in which Case ill. was taken in hand gave very little hope of a successful result. Notwithstand- ing this, the patient at the end of three months is wonder- fully improved, and able to go about and do her work. It seemed more than probable that as the patient was beyond surgical interference there would be some involve- ment of the lumbar glands which would be most difficult to get at, and, therefore, the possibility of metastatic de- posits in this case must not be overlooked. With regard to Case IV., the small size of the growth and the absence of any enlarged glands, and the capacity of the patient to stand the full force of the current required give every hope of a successful issue. I feel very little doubt that some patients will be able to stand even a stronger current than 600 milliamperes, which is the maximum at present obtained. If recurrence occurs, I should feel no hesitation in increasing the in- tensity beyond that point. It may be said that cases of scirrhus are only slow growing, but with Cases I. and II. the previous history of so short a time as six months and twelve months respectively shows that, on the contrary, the growth has been remarkably active.