On the treatment of cancer by congelation and an improved mode of pressure, separately or combined : with an appendix on the use of congelation in inflammatory affections of the uterus / by James Arnott.

  • Arnott, James (James Moncrieff), 1794-1885.
Date:
1855
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the treatment of cancer by congelation and an improved mode of pressure, separately or combined : with an appendix on the use of congelation in inflammatory affections of the uterus / by James Arnott. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    you saw it, but the tumour has almost disappeared—that is, there is very little hardness or tenderness remaining. There is, however, a hollow or kind of indentation across the breast near the nipple, but not the slightest indication of a tendency to suppurating. There is, also, a frequent feeling of shoot¬ ing or twinging pains*” In replying to this letter, I expressed great regret that so long an interval had been allowed to elapse without using congelation, as there appeared reason to fear that a remnan t of the disease was still present ; and in the next communi¬ cation from the husband of my patient (the last which I have received), dated Nov. 15th, he mentions that the ice and salt had again been once applied. The only interesting circumstan¬ ces noticed in this letter, respecting the condition of the breast, are, that “ there is no hardness or tumouralthough there was occasional annoyance from the sticking of the lint to the skin in consequence of the 46 exudation of a gummy substance close round, but, so far as I can see, not out of the nipple.” CASE IV.—CANCER OF THE BREAST. In the following case of scirrhous cancer of the breast the tumour was not only larger, but it was more deeply seated in the breast than that just related, and, consequently, there was more difficulty in causing the remedial influence of con¬ gelation to pervade it. It constitutes, however, a better example of the mere arrest of the disease, for I have little doubt that had the other case continued under my own im¬ mediate care, all trace of cancer would have soon disappeared, and the case now to be related would, I think, have made quicker progress to recovery had the treatment been modi¬ fied, and particularly if pressure had been combined with congelation.