The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-07-11
Cundurango Eaposcd.

Ed PATRIOT: During the past six
weeks have been in almost daily re-
ceipt of communications, from medical
country, requesting some reliable infor-
nation relative to the specific and mar
vellous virtues claimed for the cundu-
range as remedy III the treatment of
cancer.
As it would involve the expenditure
of more time than l can spare to reply
to these several letters of inquiry sepa-
rately, have determined to avail my
self Of your courtesy to make public
such information as l have been able to
obtain, and the conclusions to which |
have arrived, touching the merits of this
new so-called remedy for the cure Of
cancer.
The source from which the drug is
obtained, mode Of preparation and ad
ministration, together with tie romantic
and apochryphal history of its discov-
cry, have already been published to the
world. 1t is not necessary, therefore, for
ne to refer to such publication further
than to observe that the question very
naturally suggests itself to the medical
mind, what proof have we that this indi-
viduawas affected with cancer at all p
Does the diagnostic evidence of all igno-
rant, professional woman furnish suf-
fcient scientific testimony to enable US TO
believe that this was really case of
that disease? Do not all the circum.
stances connected with this story justify
the opinion that it is sensational fic-
ton invented for the occasion, or tra-
ditional superstition OF the ignorant in
habitants
Passing from this question of its dis
covery, we take the drug as presented
to us in this country. 1t seems that
specimens of the cundurango we're dis
tributed sometime during the month of
A April last by the Department of State
to the Surgeon General of the United
States army to the chief Of the Bureau
Of Medicine and Surgery Of the United
States navy, and to the Department OF
Agriculture, in order that the remedy
should be subjected to the test of chem
ical analysis, as well as therapeutic ex-
perimentation by scientific and compe.
tent medical men. In accordance with
this purpose q chemical analysis of the
cundurango was made by Professor
Antistl, of this city, an accomplished
experienced practical chemist, the result
of which is here given, as an extract
from his report:
| Fatty matter, soluble in ether and
partially in strong alcohol, Z; yellow
: rosin, soluble in alcohol. ct; starch
gum, and glucose, 3; tannin, yellow and
/, brown coloring matter and extractive
1876; cellulose liquin, &C., 64.5.
Son distillation, no volatile oil OF
acid was obtainahle; no crystalline, al
kaloid, or active principle was sepafabl'
by the usual method of proximate anal
: ysis Whatever medical virtues th'
: plant may possess must reside either il
the yellow rosin or in the extractive.-
0 The former is soluble in alcohol, th
v latter in water. In the water decoctiol
a some of the rosin is diffused, but tn
greater portion of the rosin is not eX
4 tracted by water. The therapeutic po
: sition of the plant, judged from analy
$ sis, is among the aromatic oitters,"
1t will thus be seen that, unlike almos
. all of those vegetable growths whic
possess very powerful and radical ther
y aputic influences upon the animal econ
omy--such as nux vomica, cinchons
opium, stramonium, &c, &c.--it cor
|, tains no active principle capable of be
" ing eliminated by the ordinary modes c
IS chemical analysis, and hence it is fair
suppose that it really possesses none
Y and that its virtues (if it possesses any
l. are dependent chiefly, if not entirely
d upon the resiHous principle which is il
a soluble in water and yet we are tol
that it was the decoction or Infusion {
l. the drug which was used by the human
o and affectionate wife, in her efforts
1T dispose of her husband, which first d.
= veloped its wonderful virtues.
at Through the courtesy of Surgeo
Norris, of the United States army,
re have been permitted to read his repor
d made to Surgeon General Barnes, d,
rt failing the results of his experience wit
in the cundurango in the treatment of cal
y Ger, and although not authorized to
so by publication, I shall take the libe
1t ty of stating that, although the case s.
is lected for experiment by him presente
a al the conditions required for ia
+. test of It's merits, it utterly failed to a
IN rest The progress of the disease, or
any decided manner to modify its cha
- acter or mitigate the suffering of tt
~ patient. The case terminated fatally .
ia Il the expiration of five weeks from tt
u commencement of this treatment, no
'' withstanding its uninterrupted admin
tration during that period. I will hel
add, that exactly similar results folloy
Is ed in another case which was treated
rs New York with the cundurango, und'
a. instructions from the Surgeon Genera
ie In both of these cases specimens Of tt
'r morbid products procured after deaf
were submitted to miscroscopical an
r other tests to confirm the accuracy c
y diagnosis.
y l am also indebted to the gentleman
Is ly assistant to the chief of the Burea
"a of Medicine and Surgery, United State
s navy, for the privilege of perusing
lengthy communication upon the sui
Mt ject of cundurango, made to that b'
n reau by the accomplished pharmacis
e, DR.. E.. R. Squibb, of Brooklyn,
: which he very clearly exhibits his entil
4 want of confidence in its merits as
0, cure for cancer, and classiies it with I'll
10 numerous empirical agents which ha,
from time to time heretofore agitate
the public mind and disappointed Il
hopes and expectations of SO many III
fortunate victims of this terrible NAL
lie dy. l omitted to mention that two oil
'I er cases of cancer were. treated with Il
"a curdurango by medical officer of tt
Y army in this city, but with no favorab