The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-07-11
From the Eclectic Medical Journal.
Pathology and Durability of Cancer.
by PROF. R. 8. NEWTON.

am well aware that the bare proposal
TO cure carcinomatous and other malignant
diseases, by extraordinary medical means,
will be more likely to meet with the smile
of skepticism than the serious and patient
consideration Of the profession. But of
Two 'fhings | am fully satisfied, viz: that
the prevalent opinion. c6hcerhing the pri-
mary local character Of this class of tu
1nors or deposits, is entirely erroneous, and
that the consequent practice Of relying al
most exclusively on The knife as means Of
euro, is wholly useless. Hence, unless we
are willing to abandon this unfortunate
class Of human sufferers to their fate and
qeave them where they are indeed now
left, to very great extent IN the hands
Of the very lowest aud most ignorant en-
pirics, We must, as a profession, throw a
side our prepossessions and thoroughly re-
Investigate the whole subject.
From a patient and rigid scrutiny Of a
large number Of cases, have for many
years entertained no doubt bat that cor
rect and reliable conclusions could be de-
duced concerning both the prim .ry causes
and the particular organs through which
they act, and the disturbance of whose
functions lead directly to the deposte; and
Hso, we should certainly find ourselves
as capable Of preventing and curing this,
As any other class of chronic Diseases
But how was such an investigation to he
madel Tho number Of cases, coming fully
under the observation of any one pfacti-
tioner, WAS too limited for the purpose;
and in our well regulated hospitals, this
class Of patients are seldom received ex-
cept for the purpose Of undergoing an op.
eration with the knife.
could therefore alort no mode Of ac-
complishing this desirable object so fully
AMI satisfactorily, as by the establishment
Of an institution, devoted to the treat
fhent of malignant or carcinotnatous aud
scrofulous diseases. Such an institution,
ander good aud faithful management,
has gathered "a sufficient number and
variety Of cases, not only to afford the
most ample field for Investigation, but
has, likewise, done more TO snatch this
Numerous and truly miserable class Of
human sufferers from the hands Of the
fgaorant than any other movement that
could be devised.
Twas not sure meeting the counte-
nance and appreciation Of the professiort
DR.. Daniel Drake said, to arrive at cor.
rect conclusion on this subject "experi-
nhent n nessessary to an answer oi any
kind; no rcgular member Of the profes-
sion, however, Is much inclined to such
experiments, because they tend (mprop-
crly) to place him, in the estimation Of
bis brethren, in the category OF mere
enPirics." Such being the general opin
ton OF the profession why should we dis
courage our patients from placing them
selves in the hands Of those who treat
diseases Of this class as speciality Why
should the profession abandon those
suffering with caneeri Do they not re-
quire The benefits arising from the know
ledge Of an enlightened profession.as well
~ any other class Of suffering humanity
And while the profession acknowledge
their inability TO cure this class ofdiseases,
according 10 the above quotation FROM
Prof nI.ske4 Is h better 10 let such die,
shan meas tho diSpleasure Of the profes-
sion, by trying TO mitigate their sufferings.
Under such circumstances, aud acting
upon these suggestions, I volunteered
trial. and found the old opinions to be
erroneous, and this disease to be durable.
II ha, required many years Of carefcl
attention and success iE this branch Of the
profession, 10 wsrrant me IN making this
announcement; but with this, as with ail
other rnslignsat diseases il requires years
70 test their vsdical cure, and the treat
meat ] pursue has stood that test hence
The curabFity Of this disease Is as fully es-
sablisbcd IS any other that Gesh is heir
90.
am decidedly opposed to the old
ihrsadbArs opinion. taught BY the med.
icasschools sor ages past aid adopted by
theifdisciplss rs authority without ever
investigating the suIjec, for themselves,
that its primarily acenstitutional disease,
but l am fully sasi.Aed that tho disease
has a local caass Ios rs origin, which /
conceive to be eptSzos, Of csnS.sens ami.
naIcu.e (which fact 1 made kII 10
the pebble some years ago). and thu I.
becomes eoustiiut;onai disease only
when shsss aninalcule become s,iii.
cisnsly dsssIopad and sssen4 enodsli 10
overcome the nstoral resis,ipg action oi
she syssems They kayeaa iahessnl ven.
deuey . sal up o. aosnoy con,;aoss
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