Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-24
CuMduramgO.

The following letter from DR.. Bliss of Wash
ington to a New York physician, relating
briefly his experience with the new treatment
for cancer, will be read with interest:
WASHINGTON, D. c., July II.
DR.. G. II. Merkel, so Harrison AUenue, BOs-
ton, Mass. Ny Dear DOctOr-Your favor of
blank date, relative to the South American rem
edy for cancer, is received, and in reply would
state that the cundurango bark, about which so
much inquiry is being made, and which has
manifested such rare Alternative power and such
specific influence over cancer, syphilis, and
scrofula, is native OF South America, and is
found in abundance on the table lands of the
Andes, in the southwestern portion of the terri
tory of Ecuador, in the LoXa district where Gin
chona was first found and where at present the
banks are most rich in alkalOids.
In Ecuador its resources were fret developed,
two physicians, Messrs. Cassares and Eguigu-
ren, having applied it to the treatment of can
Ger, syphilis, &C., with success. The bark was
sent, with its history, by the government of Ecu
ador TO the United States state department; it
was by them considered of so much Importance
that circular upon the subject was issued
Soon after quantity was sent to my friend and
patient, Mr.. Flores, the minister of Ecuador in
this city, and placed in my hands for trial.
| exhibited it first in the treatment of the
mother of Vice President Cofax, Mrs. G. W.
Mathews, who had scirrhus of the breast, a
typical case and in its last stages. Before re-
ceiving the remedy had advised the family that
she could survive not longer than the coming
autumn. When | commenced operations the
gland was hard and nodules could be felt over
a diameter of four inches, the eroded portion
about two inches across with everted edges of
a scarlet color. 1t bled at the slightest touch
and discharged profusely brown sanious fluid,
and this accompanied with the characteristic
feter of cancer. The glands in the axillary and
sub-mental regions were also indurated and
swollen with secondary cancerous deposits, in
dicating the complete su6jueation of the system
to the influence of the poison. The counte-
nance presentedthe usual pale, doughty, cachetic
appearance; the lines of expression gone the
lips notified and becoming blue at the least ex-
ertion; the growth rapidly increasing in size
and malignity, so much SO that the changes
could be noticed from day to day
After twenty-six days treatment with the cum
durango infusion the gland has lost much of its
size, and the induratiOn of the gland and dis
celebration of the integuments entirely subsidized
the color of the denuded part changed to pale
ink, and the ulcer is covered with granuations
secrehng healthy pus, which has taken the
place of the former brown sanious discharge.
The countenance has resumed the old familiar
appearance, blueness of lips has disappeared,
strength increased, patient moving about with
activity, the sub-mental enlargement disap-
peared, the hardened glands quite soft to touch,
and the cancerous fetor much lessened-the
whole pointing Enthusiastically TO the fact that
poison, and that, in a short time, by the use of
the cundurango, complete cure may be ex-
pected.
Other cases have been treated by me present
ing various forms of cancer, which have
rapidly progressed to recovery, manifesting UNI
equivocaly its influence in this malignant form
Of blood poison. | have also the corroborative
evidence of the remarkable influence of this
remedy in progressive malignant diseases, of
several medical gentlemen and patients in diff
ferent portions of the country, who have OBJ
served and experienced 10 effects, although they
have had but small Quantity of the medicine,
which was procured from the state department
before the supply was exhausted.
Early in May l dispatched my partner to Ecu
ador for investigation into the origin, cbarae-
teristics, and cultivation of this important bark,
and am assured by him that a considerable
| quantity will reach New York on the first or at
the outside not later than the fifteenth OF
| August, when the various demands for the
remedy, with all necessary instructions, will
| receive due attention.
| ! have furnished the New York Medical Jour
| MI for July with a hurriedly written article
upon the cases already treated; and it is my
| purpose to continue the correspondence in each
| succeeding number for the benefit of the pro-
fession, TO which / invite your attention. Very
truly yours, J. w. BLISS, NJ. d.