The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-29 00:00:00

ON CANCER-YELPEAU-MARSDEN.

(Prom the Lancet.)

[We extract the following notice with much plea-
sure from a publication very competent to do full
justice to the eminent author, and no less eminent
translator of a work of deep interest to the public
at large, but more particularly to the medical pro-
fession] :

Traite des Maladies da SCiii et de la .T.,),'gion Manzmaire.
Par A. VELPEAII, &lembre de rlnstitut, Chirargion

de l'EL)pital de la Charittl,
On Canar of the Breast and Mammary Region,. By A.
VELPEAU, klember of the fbst;tott,, &I. Translated
from the French by W. MARSDEN, M.D., Surgeon to
the Royal Free and Cancer Hospitals. Landon

Henry Renshaw.
A literal and faithful translation of a most valuable
treatise on the Malignant Diseases of the Breast and of
the Mammary Region, by M. Velpeau, the celebrated
Parisian surgeon, has most opportunely been offered the
public and . the profession by Dr. Marsden, senior sur-
geon to, and founder of, the Royal Free Hospital, and
heal surgeon to the Cancer Hospital, Brompton and
London. Notwithstanding the many valuable additions
to the literature of malignant disease of the Breast and
Mammary Region, such a work was greatly wanted. Ita
history is briefly this :
M. Velpeau is pre-eminent as a practical man, pro-
found physiologist, and talented author. The present
work contains the results of more than thirty years' care•
ful clinical observations conducted in large hospitals, in
the presence of numerous ciaases of students ; and in a❑
extensive private and consultation practice, aided by the
researches of the first micrographers of the day, who
mostly were, indeed, M. Valpeau's students. Thus no-
thing has been neglected, ca►culated in the most remote
manner to throw light on a subject confessedly surround-
ed by the greatest difficulties. Dr. Marsden, being
surgeon to the Cancer Hospital, where, daily, as it were,
every form of this dreadful disease is brought before him,
must, during a long and active professional life have be-
come familiar with all the difficulties besetting an in-
quiry which, as M. Velpeau judiciously remarks, has
extended, nearly in its present form, from Hippocrates to
the present day. Thus the work appears in its English
dress under the most favourable circumstances.

As regards the Pathology of Cancer, that all-import-
ant point, it is but too evident, and we say it with re-
gret, that the doctrine of the cancer cell, so ably ex-
pounded by Lebert, Vogel, and other distinguished
micrographers, can no longer be accepted as a doctrine
or theory entitled to hold its ground in medicine. The
cancer cell is not pathognomonie of cancer ; its presence
is no proof of the malignant character of the disease, nor
its absence of the opposite. The work before ups proves
incontestibly that M. Lebert and those who think with
him will be compelled, however reluctantly, to modify
their views and opinions on this important matter. To
the operation, as performed with the scalpel or bistoury,
M. Velpeau still looks as the only remedy to be at all
depended on. That it fails be frankly admits ; no stir-
geon lives who less dreads his want of success being
known. But although favourable to the use of the
knife,—emboldened in this course, no doubt, by the suc-
cessful application of etherisation,—he is not unmindful
nor reluctant to admit the benefits which patients labouring
under malignant disease may derive from the judicious
use of caustics, the various qualities of which he de-
scribes with infinite care, and the utmost impartiality.
To say that the work of M. Velpeau contains every
novelty in doctrine and in practice, as we should expect
from a French surgeon, is not to do it justice ; it con-
tains the results of the inquiries of a highly gifted mind,
which for thirty years bad never lost sight of the disease.
Thus every remedy has been tried, every recommen-
dation attended to, how suspicious soever might be the
source whence the recommendation or the proposed
remedy came. It is not enough to say that it merits
the confidence of all ; the work is destined to become
popular, and to be a standard of reference for a century
at least. To the oldest, to tlie most experienced, its
perusaL will suggest many points for reflection ; carefully
studied, it will place the young surgeon au courant with
the most advanced doctrine and practice of the day ; to
the provincial surgeon especially this work must prove
invaluable.
If an- agreeable reflection may be drawn from a sub-
ject so disheartening as the medical history of cancer, it
will be found, we think, in the courageous, indefatigable,
and unceasing efforts on the part of the profession, dur-
ing so many centuries, to discover a remedy for the most
terrible of all diseases. The latest effort in this direction
we now review ; the treatise before us furnishes a secure
starting point for future inquiry, and for a long period
to come will assuredly be viewed as a classical work on
Cancer of the Breast. Four highly-finished and beauti-
fully-coloured engravings further enhance the value of
this elaborate and practical treatise.
It was, .originally, the intention of the translator, as
we learnfrom a short note attached to the translation,
to have added to the original work of M. Velpeau, notes
and observations drawn from the results of his own ex-
tended practice, bat we think he has acted judiciously
in reserving them for a separate and distinct work, in
which the great practiCal question of the importance of
a combined constitutional and surgical treatment may be
fully submitted to the profession and the public.

THE CZAR AND PRINCE MENSCHIKOFF.

The Invalide Busse publishes the following Imperial
rescript, addressed to Prince. Menschikoff, on the occa-
sion of his jubilee of fifty years passed in the service of
the state :

"Prince Alexander Sergovitch,—The completion of
the fiftieth year that you have passed in the service of
the state furnishes me with the most agreeable opportu-
nity of recalling the eminent services, both military and
administrative, that rendered conspicuous your indefatig-
able, zealous° and loyal devotedness during the reign of
the Emperor Alexander L of blessed memory, and during
the reign of my late father, the Emperor Nicholas.
" In the memorable period of the years 1813, 1814,
and 1815, you took part, in the capacity of aide-de-camp,
and in the functions intrusted to you by your Sovereign,
in many actions within sight of the enemy, and every-
where you gave proof of much personal bravery and
great self-denial.
" In the course of the war of 1818 against the Otto-
man Porte, which was so honourable for you in every
sense, the capture of the fortress of Anapa covered you
with glory, a 3 likewise the army that fought under your
orders. On that occasion you hoisted 1.,r the first time,
to use the words of your own report, the flag of corn-
mander-in-chicf of the naval staff, functions with which
you had just been invested by the confidence of the mo-
narch. Your labours and the dispositions you made at
the siege of Varna, in which you were severely wounded
by a gun-shot, are no less worthy of eulogium. Your
name will remain for ever connected with the history of
the incomparable defence of Sebastopol, that you main-
tained for 11 months.

"It is to you that belong the first brilliant pages of
the annals that will relate to posterity the history of an
obstinate defence against the immense forces of the

enema.

" In enumerating your military merits I am happy at
being able to mention your civic career. During the 26
years of your administration of the naval jurisdiction,
and during your equally long administration of the great
principality of Finland, you constantly enjoyed the un
alterable good wishes of my father, of imperishable me-
mory, who esteemed you, as he expressed to we, before
the supreme hour of death, as his companion and friend.
"Moreover, your merits and high capacities have
caused other functions in other branches of the Govern-
ment to be confided to you, and in every instance you
distinguished yourself by indefatigable activity and great
sacrifice of self. In fully appreciating the eminent ser-
vices you have not ceased to render for half a century,
I consider it my duty to express to you my cordial anti
sincere gratitude, and I hope that, amid the labours
that await me, I shall obtain your valuable assistance
and your old devotion, for the welfare of our beloved
Russia,.--I remain for ever yours affectionately,
(Signed) " ALEXANDER,"