Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-09-02
CANCER CURED BY ERYsIPELAs.

a
Beneficent Results.
A patient In the New York Cancer hos
pital accidentally became inoculated
with the virus Of erysipelas several weeks
ago. As the disease progressed 1t was
noticed that the patients cancerous con-
dition improved. This fact suggested to
DR.. William T. Bull the adyiSability of
inoculating other patients with the
poison of erysipelas. Accordingly several
cases were set apart and experiments
were begun and carried out by DR.. w.
B. Coley under the direction Of Dr.. Bull.
The inoculatious were made not only on
patients with carcinoma Commonly
known as cancer), but also on others who
were suffering from sarcoma, which is a
much more malignant form Of tumor
than the ordinary cancer. The results
In both forms were very satisfactory.
For inoculating purposes q pure cul-
-ture Of the streptococcus was used. OF
the cases Of carcinoma about 25 per cent
were reported cured, while in the sar-
comatous cases the results were even
better, showing as many as 40 per cent
OF those experimental upon to have be-
come well and free after the attack OF
erysipelas.
It has been said that whatever good
has resulted was due to the local reac-
hon. This theory Is apparently dis
proved by the fact that inoculations
made at distance from the Sumor have
been known to cause it to disappear.
The injections as a rule were made
into the tumor itself and were repeated
every 4s hours. The reaction produced
was almost identical with that produced
by true erysipelas, thoughin most Of the
cases it was milder In degree, passing
away within to 4S hours. The dan
gers attending this form Of treatment
are insignificant when one considers the
usual outcome Of a case of cancer, or
sarcoma, which is almost invariably IA
tai. The subject Of cancer Is not gener-
ally understood. What is popularly
known as cancer includes many differ
ent forms Of tumors, such as carcinoma,
of which there are four varieties-the
spheroidal celled, which includes the
hard and soft cancers; what is known as
epithelioma, the form usually seen at.
fecting the lip; the cylindrical celled,
and the colloid.
Of sarcomata the surgeons also make
four rsubdivisions-the round celled, spin.
die celled, mixed celled and the myeloid,
or giant cellei. For other than scien-
tiic purposes the subdivisions are hardly
necessary, as the various forms OF sar-
comata are all said to be very malignant.
In the report written by DIR. Coley he
concludes: First, that the curative ef-
feet Of erysipelas upon malignant tu-
mors Is an established fact; second, the
action upon the sarcoma Is invariably
more powerful than upon carcinoma In
about the ratio Of three to one; third,
the treatment of inoperable malignant
humors by repeated inoculations Of cry
sipelas Is both practicable and not at
tended with great risk; fourth, the cur.
stive action is systematic and probably
duo chiefly to the toxic products of the
strcptococcus, which products may be
isolated and used without producing
erysipelas, and, fifth, that the method OF
incubation should not be employed In.
discriminatory until further clinical ex'
periments have proved its limitations
New York World.