Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-07-05
CunduranSO.

Much has been Salu lalely duu lluCh ih'e''
excited as to the reported val lue OF cunduTango
as cure for cancer, From letter IN inc " ash
;ncton Patriot written by DIR. Garnett We ex-
tract the following
':It seems that specimens of the cundurango
were distributed sometime during the month
Of 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 Sur
gerry of the United States navy, and TO the Dc-
Dartment of Agriculture, in order that the
remedy should be bjected to the test OF cheml-
cal ANALYSIS, as well as therapeutic cxperlmen-
tltion by scientific and competent medical men;
In accordance with this purpose a chemical
ANALYSIS of the cundurango was made by fro,
iessor Antisell, Of this city, an accomplished
and experienced practical chemist, the result
ofIhich is here given, rs an extract from his
report: 80, ..:ou,,
in strong alcohol 7; yellow roSln soluble III al
cohol, 81; starch gum, and glucose, .; tannln'
yellow and brown cooring matter and cxtrac-
i've, l2.G; ccllulosc liquin, NC, C4.5.
.On distillation, no volatile oil or acid was
obtairnbc; no crystalline, alkaoid Or active,
principle was separable by the usual method OF
nroy;mate ANALYSIS. Whatever medical virtues
the plant may possess must reside either IN the
Yellow rosin or in the .extractiyc. The former
j. soluble in alcohol, tie latter in water. In the
wotcr decoction some of the rosin is diffuscd,
INIT the greater portion of the rosn is not ex.
tracted bv water. The therapeutic position OF
the plant, judged from analysis Is among the
aromatic bitters. -
It will thus be seen that, unlike almost all OF
those vegetable growths which possess very
powerful and radical therapeutic influences
upon the animal economy-such as nuX-Vom!-
ca, cinchona, OPIUM, stramonlum; &c, &c'Iit
contains no active principle capable OF being ell,
minated by the ordinary modes of chemical
ANALYSIS, and hence it is fair to suppose that 1t
really possesses nonc and that its virtues UT 1t
possesses any are dependent chiefly, it not en-
tirely, upon the resinous principle which Is In
soluble in water
Through the courtesy of Surgeon Norris, OF
the United States army, bave been permitted
to read his report, made to Surgeon General
Barnes detailing the results Of his experience
with the cundurango in the treatment OF can
Ger, and, although not authorized to 90 SO by
publication, | shall take the liberty Vt stating
that, although the case: selected Tor experiment
by him presented all the conditions required ior
Il fair test of its merits, it utterly failed to ar
rest the progress Of the disease, or IN any de-
cidcd manner to modify it's character or mitl-
gate the suffering of the patient. The case
terminated fatally at the expiration OF tlVe
weeks from the commencement of this treat
ment Notwithstanding its uninterrupted adj
mnstration during that period | VIII here
add, that exactly similar results followed IN
another case which was treated in New ork
with the cunduango, under instructions from
the Surgeon General In both Of these cases
specimens the morbid products procured at;
ter:death we're submitted to miscroscopical and
other tests to confirm the accuracy of diagnosis
am also indebted to the gentlemanly assls-
tant to the chief of the Bureau OF Medicine
and Surgery, u S. navy, for the privilege OF
perusing lengthy communication upon the
subject Of quadrangle made to thai bureau by
the accomplished pharmacist, DR.. r. Ii.
Squibb, of Brooklyn, in which he very clearly
exhibits his entire want OF confidence IN It's
merits as a cure tor cancer, and classlhes u
with the numerous empirical agents which
have from time to time heretofore agitated the
public mind and disappointed the hopes and
expectations of SO many unfortunate victims OF
this terrible malady. [ omitted to mention
that two other cases Of cancer were treated with
the cundurango by medical officer OF the
army in this city but with no favorable results.
In view Of these facts, together with others
equally impressive which might be stated, l
nm irresistibly forced to the conclusion that
the cundurango possesses no value whatever
as a remedial agent in the treatment Of cancer;
that it is capable, indeed, of doing indirect In
jury by disturbing the functions Of the stomach
and impairing nutrition that, so far as have
been able to learn, not a single wel-authcntl-
Gated case of cancer has been cured by its use.
am aware that some Importance has been
given to the testimony of Vice President Col
fax in favor of cure having been effected by
the use of this remedy upon a member OF ms
family, but does it occur to the public that the
honorable gentleman and his friends may have
been mistaken in the diagnosis? Was this
case of genuine cancer and Is the disease
permanently cured, ifso? In medical ant
diagnostic point of view, the testimony of Mr.
Colfax is, of course, entitled to no more weight
than that of any other layman.
ALIEN Y. p. GARNErr, NJ. ID.
Washington, ID. G., July ., 1871.