On the treatment of cancer / by John Clay.

  • Clay, John, 1821-1894.
Date:
1882
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the treatment of cancer / by John Clay. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    9/40 page 7
    I have also received a supply of greyish-white Chian turpentine, which has a similar appearance to glazier’s putty. It has the characteristic odour on being rubbed between the thumb and finger, and is tasteless. I am informed that it is chewed by the natives, and is washed for this purpose to free it from its impurities. I have not tried it as a medicine, and should imagine that it is not so valuable as the gums above mentioned for medicinal purposes. The Chian turpentine is administered internally; being useless as a local application. It may be given in the form of pills, or in solution as a mixture or emulsion. The formula for the preparation of the pills is as follows:—Take of Chian turpentine one drachm and a half, flowers of sulphur one drachm, to make thirty pills. The ingredients are perhaps best mixed in a Wedgwood mortar which has been slightly warmed by immersing it in hot water. Magnesia should not be used as an excipient in the preparation of the pills, as it makes them hard and indigestible. The pills should not be coated. On commencing to take the pills, the patient should take two three times a day for about three weeks; then three pills three times daily, in each case about half an hour after taking food. After the pills have been taken for about three months they should be discontinued for three days in every fortnight. The pills may be safely taken to the number of twelve daily under ordinary circumstances. The urine should be tested occasionally for albumen, and if this is present, the pills should be discontinued for a time, although I have not found that the Chian turpentine tends to produce that condition of the urine. It is also necessary to examine the evacuations occasionally, to ascertain if the pills are digested. If the pills appear whole in the evacuations, or do not appear to be thoroughly digested, they may be broken up, or cut into small pieces and taken in milk or gruel. The Chian turpentine administered in solution, as in a mixture or emulsion, obviates the objection just made in reference to the digestibility of the drug when taken in the form of pills; being in a state of minute division it is believed to be readily assimilated in this form. The essence of Chian turpentine prepared by Messrs. Southall & Co., appears to me to be the best form for administering the drug of any prepara-
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3