our Profession consider, that as the Art is capable of receiving daily
Improvements; useful Discoveries, confirmed by Experiments, ought to
receive the joint Concurrence of their good Wishes; notwithstanding,
they may contradict an Opinion that has been almost universally
received. These we shall always find, are the Gentlemen who in
opposition to those Bigots whose Tempers discover them to be the
Votaries of a few opinionative Men, endeavour to guide their Judgments
by Reason, backed with judicious Observations, and whatever Arguments
are produced, will never go about to controul Matters of Fact. It is
a grand Truth that Necessity gave Being to _Physick_ and _Surgery_,
and Experience is the only Way to bring them to Perfection; but it is
much to be lamented by them that are Well-Wishers to those Arts that
the Persons which are perhaps capable of advancing them most, devote
themselves so much to speculative Fictions (the Effects of teeming
Brains) that some have pretended with a magisterial Air to dictate,
even to Experience itself. In such a Case it would be needless to go
about to offer Arguments sufficient to disengage their Inclinations,
Time only must discover to them their Error, when it makes them
sensible they have, to no Purpose, persisted in the Pursuit of
frivolous Niceties; for in reality, the Benefit of Mankind in general
is deduced from Practical Truths. The Thoughts of this are sufficient
to inspire every generous Soul with an ardent Desire of discovering
something that may be of so universal an Advantage: As for my own Part,
I was not animated to concern my self in the Undertaking I have engaged
in, by a Prospect of gaining that Honour that is often liberally
bestowed on those that mint new _Hypotheses_, or make new Discoveries;
my only Design was to inform my self, whether some of those Diseases,
which are generally reputed incureable, are not actually in themselves
curable, and by this means to wipe off a Reproach which has been cast
on Nature, when in reality it proceeds only from our own Weakness, and
the Infirmity of our Art. A diligent Application to those Distempers
which baffle us most, has been frequently recommended by very reputable
Authors, and some of those who have obliged us with the Histories of
_Diseased Persons_, have very often mentioned considerable Cures, which
have been happily performed after the Patients have been looked upon
by some as incurable. _Hippocrates_ tells us, _Lib._ 2 _Aph._ 52. _Si
Medico secundum rectam Rationem Facienti, Curatio non statim succedat,
non est tamen mutanda Methodus, quamdiu id restat quod à Principio
visum est._ I am fully persuaded that most Practitioners in _Surgery_
have at some Time or other, by an industrious Application, been
successfull where Art could not warrant a Cure. As to the _Disease_ I
propose to make the chief Subject of this Letter, tho’ it be generally
branded with the Character of Incurable, I must freely own I never
could discover any thing essential to it in general that should make
it so; it is true, there are many _Diseases_ that are not to be cured,
where certain Circumstances are conjoined, which very much contribute
to the Misfortune; tho’ Others of the same _Class_ exempt from those
Adherents may, perhaps, be happily enough cured; Thus for Instance. In
_Cancers_ we have but little Reason to expect a Cure in a Person that
is old, if the _Cancer_ has been of many Years standing, and is firmly
fixed to the Ribs; but if the Patient be not so far advanced in Years
as to be uncapable of receiving the Benefit of Nature by the regular
Discharge of the _Menses_ and the _Cancer_ be loose; notwithstanding,
it be Ulcerated, over-spread with fungous Flesh, discharge a filthy
Matter, and smell very offensively; we do upon Experience affirm that
such a Patient may be cured. We must own we cannot be of the Opinion
of the _Paracelsians_, who affirm there is no _Disease_ but what is
curable in any Patient, for the Reason we have given; nor can we
with the _Galenists_, agree that the _Gout_, _Dead-palsie_, _Stone_,
_Cancer_, &c. are _Diseases_ absolutely incurable; because Experience
discovers the contrary. We find that Mr _Boyle_ is of the same Opinion,
and thinks it were no ill Piece of Service to Mankind, if a severe
Collection were made of the Cures of such Persons as have been judged
irrecoverable by the _Doctors_; that Men might no longer excuse their
own Ignorance by the Impotency of Nature, and bare the World in Hand,
as if the Art of _Physick_ and their Skill, were of the same Extent.
There seems to be one very effectual Way to rescue the medicinal Art
from the Aspersions of some bold Persons; and that is that of a certain
Number of regular Practitioners in _Physick_ and _Surgery_, each of
them should apply himself to the Study of one particular _Disease_: By
this means we should soon find they would be capable of surmounting
those Difficulties that have all along baffled the most Judicious of
the general Practicers. How odd, and disagreeable this Opinion may
seem to some Men I know not; but I assure you, _Sir_, I find it of
a very ancient Date; for _Herodotus_, a _Greek Historian_ informs
us, that before his Time, the _Physicians_ in _Egypt_ used to apply
themselves to the Study and Advancement of one _Disease_ in particular.
_Baricellus_, and _Lionardo di Capoa_, observe the same likewise, in
Relation to the Practice of _Physick_ in that Country. _Baglivi_, in
the Scheme he lays down for erecting of Colleges for the Improvement
of _Physick_, tells us, that every Fellow of his Literate Society
must have one _Disease_ allotted him for the Task of his whole Life;
and which elsewhere he says is not sufficient for the illustrating
the Province of one _Disease_; but that we lie under a Necessity of
taking in Materials from all Hands. But there is no Man that we know
of, has spoke more agreeably of this Matter than Dr _Harris_, in his
_Pharmacologia Anti-Empirica_, he owns that he took more than ordinary
Pains in one particular _Disease_, and assures us he verily believes if
learned Men, after a compleat Acquisition of the universal Method of
_Physick_, and a necessary Search into the Nature and Cures of those
manifold Infirmities and Diseases, which, with a kind of infinite
Variety, do afflict Mankind, would, with their utmost Vigour and
Resolution, prosecute the Knowledge of some one _Disease_ eminently
above others; they would, most certainly, find a particular Providence
attending and assisting them in so good and honest a Design. He adds,
a few Pages farther, that wherever a Man’s Thoughts are intent and
fixed, wherever his Genius does naturally incline, and all his Aims
and Application do continually tend, whether it be to pertinent or
insignificant Matters; whether it be to useful, or else meerly curious
Things; if he has but tolerable Parts, and Education corresponding,
he can hardly ever miss; it is hardly possible he should miss the
becoming Eminent, and in great Measure perfect, (I mean perfect (says
he) according to the Modulum of Human Capacity) in that one Point.
But there is one Thing to be recommended to the Consideration of
the Person, who takes upon him the Enquiry into the Nature of one
particular _Disease_, which perhaps he might be very liable to err in,
if not cautioned against; and that is, that he be not too bold and rash
in his Attempts; for, as _Galen_ says, _The_ Physician’s _Art is not
like that of an_ Artificer, _who may make what Experiments he pleases,
to satisfy his Curiosity; because if he spoils the Materials he works
on, no Body is endangered by the Miscarriage: In Corpore autem humane_
(adds he) _ea tentare quæ non sunt Experientium comprobata Periculo
non vacat, cum temerariæ Experientiæ Finis sit totius Animantis
internecio_. I believe we shall find that one of the grand Reasons,
why Persons, generally speaking, have been so negligent in making any
Attempts on _Cancers_, has been the seeming Discouragement they have
all along met with from Authors. The Caution _Hypocrates_ has given us
in his Thirty eighth _Aphor. Sect._ 6. has scarce been omitted by any
one considerable Person that has wrote of this Subject, tho’ perhaps
the Sentence has often had an Exposition put upon it, contrary to the
Author’s Meaning; but of this, more in it’s proper Place. I proceed
now to give an Idea of _Cancers_ in the Breast from an external Cause;
and this I shall do without concerning my self with the Opinion of the
Ancients; for since we have been so happy as to live in an Age which
will be remarkable for the many surprising Discoveries which have been
made in _Anatomy_: We should be reckoned unworthy the Advantages we
enjoy, if we did not study to apply them to the Benefit of Mankind in
general. The more inquisitive and learned Part of the World, are at
this time very well assured that the Animal Body is an exquisitely
framed Machine, and that it’s Composure is little else than a Compages
of branching and winding Canals, which are kept to a moderate Degree
of Extention, by Fluids of different Natures; and that the Motions of
these were first determined by the divine Architect: Thus in a natural
State, the whole _Fabrick_ is governed by certain Laws impressed
on the Fluids; and we often find the unhappy Consequences of the
Discomposure of a Part, to discover themselves first by an Interruption
of the Motion of the animal Juices. Thus in a _Cancer_ of the Breast
which proceeds from a Blow or Bruise (as upon strict Enquiry we have
found they most commonly do) is it not probable that by such means a
Confusion of the true Order of the little Glandulous Grains and their
excretory Ducts may happen? and at the same time an extravasated
_Lympha_ may lodge in such a spungy Texture, which in time becoming
viscid, will coalesce with the Glandular Substance, and form a _Mass_
considerably compact? Now this being so, it is reasonable to believe
that as the Lymphatic Juice continues its Motion till it arrives at
the indurated Part, its Passage must be embarrassed there; upon which,
it will soon be qualified for an Union with the remaining Part of the
glandulous Substance of the Breast; and so the whole be perfectly
changed from what it was before. This _Hypothesis_ is in a great
Measure grounded on Experiments; for if we express a Juice from some
of the _Cancerous Mass_, and hold some of it in a Spoon over a Fire,
there immediately flys off a small Vapour, and the Remainder hardens
not unlike the white of an Egg boiled; this shows it to have the
Properties of the _Lympha_; for the Chymical _Analysis_ of that Liquor
assures us it is a Composition of a great deal of fixt _Sulphur_, a
little _Volatile_, some _Phlegm_, and much _Volatile Alkalie_; to
which some add a little Earth: Now while the _Volatile Alkalie_ keeps
the Sulphur dissolved, the _Lympha_ remains in a State of Fluidity;
but when, by making the same Experiment, the _Volatile Alkalie_ is
evaporated, the Remainder hardens, and forms a pretty compact, whitish
Substance. From hence the judicious _SURGEON_ may easily deduce the
Reason why these Sort of Tumours can never be brought to Suppuration.
We shall not be so particular as to mention those _Cancers_ which
proceed from internal Causes, nor several other things which relate to
the former; for what we have here said, we look upon to be commonly
the Method of the Formation of them; and as such, we did endeavour
to calculate Remedies that should peculiarly operate on the _Mass_,
so as to dis-unite the firm Cohæsion of its Parts, and dispose them
to separate and come away, without any great Inconvenience to the
Patient; which is what we would _recommend_ with all the Earnestness
imaginable to those that are desirous of discovering a Method of curing
_Cancers_. We were before sensible that it was possible for one Body
to operate on another determinate Body, without being able to have
any such Effect on innumerable Others; as _Quicksilver_ will desolve
Gold, _Aqua-fortis_ Iron, _Vinegar_ the Shell of an Egg, _Oyl_ common
Sulphur, _&c._ which will not have any such Effect on several other
Bodies; for there is nothing more certain than that the Operations of
Dissolvents are so determined by the various Texture of the Bodies
on which they are employed, that a Liquor that is capable to corrode
a more hard and solid Body, may be unable to disunite the Parts of
one more soft and thin, if of a Texture indisposed to admit the small
Parts of the _Menstruum_. It may be expected I should say something in
relation to that which is generally looked upon to be the grand Cause
of the Incurableness of _Cancers_, I mean the acid Humour in the Blood.
But if those Gentlemen who are fond of entertaining this Opinion, do
but consider that _Cancers_ are often formed in a perfect State of
Health; and that during the Time the Cancerous Substance dissolves,
and comes away according to our Method, the Sides will run a digested
Matter, and heal by the Application of dry Lint only; they will be of
my Opinion, that neither the _Atrabile_ of the Ancients, the corrosive
_Alkalious_ Salt of the _Chymists_, nor the predominant _Acid_ of the
Rest of the Moderns, are capable of procuring those Alterations that
_Cancers_ are sometimes attended with. If we trace the Writings of our
Predecessors to their earliest Date, we shall find that many of them
have made Mention of the Roots of the _Cancer_, which they took to be
the large blew Veins that are often extended on its Surface; and the
entire Removal of these they thought to be absolutely necessary, or
the Patient could not be cured: But I believe there is no Body at this
Time that considers the _Mechanism_ of the Parts in such a Condition,
but will agree they are the necessary Consequents of it, and that
their Absence, or Presence is of no Importance; that the _Cancer_ is
sometimes attended with Adherents, or Appendices, which may very well
resemble Roots, we are assured; but these generally lay deep, and not
easily discovered; the most considerable One that ever we saw was very
near Five Inches long, and of an unequal Bigness, some Part of it did
not exceed the Largeness of a _Goose_’s Quill, but some others were
near as big as the Top of the Thumb, which resembled so many Knots in
it, it divided in the Middle, and continued separated about an Inch and
a Half, and then re-united, it was of a more tender Substance than the
Body of the _Cancerous Mass_, but of the same Colour, and was probably
the Juice that was last applied to the _Cancer_, which assumed a Form
agreeable to the Cavities it lodged it self in. Such Adherents as these
are, I am more inclined to believe, are the Cause of the unsuccessful
Attempts on _Cancers_, than any _Acid_ in the Blood; for I am of
opinion there are few Persons unacquainted with Medicines that are
capable of correcting its _Acidity_ when it happens; and had the Cure
of _Cancers_ depended on that, I am positive they would not at this
Time have had such ill Character. We have before shewed that _Cancers_
have generally their Rise from a Blow or Bruise, and that when the Body
is in an healthful Condition, and the Blood and _Lympha_ temperate and
sweet: Now if there always is an _Acidity_ of the Blood when Persons
are afflicted with _Cancers_, the _Cancers_ must sometimes cause it,
and not the _Acid_ in the Blood the _Cancers_, as is the Opinion of
most of the Moderns. What has been hitherto said, is sufficient to
prove that if Men will be always so sluggish as to acquiesce in the
Dictates and Dogmatical Positions of their Predecessors, and not exert
their Faculties in endeavouring to undeceive themselves; we must no
longer expect our Art will receive any Advancements, but as Slaves
to their Opinions content our selves with what we know already. Were
not _Parisani_, _Riolan_ the Son, and _Plempius_, so much in the
Interest of the Ancients, that when our Country-man, the assiduous
_Harvey_, had discovered the Circulation of the Blood, they not only
opposed his plain Demonstrations, but engaged in vigorous Disputes
against him, tho’ at the last they were obliged shamefully to recant
their Follies. _Celsus_ tells us, _Vix ulla perpetua Præcepta Ars
Medicinalis recipit_; scarce any of the Precepts of the Medicinal
Art are perpetual. And shall we engage then in the List with a few
opinionative Men, that ground their Course of Practice on those Methods
only, in which they have been brought up, and implicitly assent to the
Conjectures of others. No certainly, this would be to strangle Truth,
and extinguish the Vigour of our Wits with precarious Authorities.
Consonant to this, Dr _Paxton_, in his lately published Treatise,
tells us, _Thus Men, out of a trifling Distrust of their own Parts,
will not use them; or out of Laziness of Temper, will not employ them,
chusing rather to be wise or learned, by being adorned with Others
Whimsies, than undergo any Labour, Fatigue, or Trouble of being really
so_. I believe there are some Men that would rather contradict their
Senses than deny the Authority of a darling Opinion: Of this, we have
a sufficient Proof in an Instance, related by an _Italian_ Author
before-mentioned. He tells us, _That a certain Publick Reader long
Time versed and grown Old in the Books of_ Aristotle _being one Day
present at a Dissection, and clearly seeing that the_ Vena Cava _takes
its Rise from the Liver, confessed with Astonishment what his Senses
discovered to him, but that he ought not therefore, by crediting his
Senses, to contradict his Master, who constantly affirms all the Veins
in Man’s Body to have their Original from the Heart; because, said he,
it is much more easy for our Senses to be sometimes deceived, than the
Great and Sovereign_ Aristotle. I here seriously confess, I have as
much Veneration for Antiquity as any Person whatsoever; but it would be
ridiculous, if, as One says, we should so far forego our own Judgments
as always to follow the Foot-steps of Others, and to be certain of
nothing our selves: For this would be to see with others Eyes, to hear
with others Ears, and to understand with other Men’s Intellects; so
that whenever we make Quotations from the Ancients to strengthen our
Opinions, we ought to do it judiciously, and fully consider, whether
their Notions of Things are consonant to the Experience of these Times.
To prove to you, _Sir_, that I have not proceeded to apply my self
to the Cure of so formidable a Disease, without a Precedent, I shall
instance to you that _Fuschius_, a learned _Italian Surgeon_, had such
a wonderful Reputation for it formerly, that some Authors say he was
distinguished by a particular Title, which discovered his Success. His
Method I have made use of, and tho’ by passing thro’ several Hands
(the Author being mentioned by few) it has been stampt with wonderful
Encomiums, I have not hitherto found it deserves it, notwithstanding I
did not omit the most minute Circumstance in preparing the Medicine,
or prosecuting the Directions; but in its proper Place, I shall take
particular Notice of this, and several other Remedies, that have been
recommended by some Authors, as substantial and extremely useful;
for if in One or Two Instances they have been crowned with Success,
by Degrees they are handed down as infallible in all Diseases of the
like Form. To the former Account I may add, that Monsieur _Alliot_,
_Physician_ to the Duke of _Lorrain_, has applied himself to the
Cure of this Disease very successfully, as a _Schedule_ he published
at _Paris_ some Years ago informs us; we are likewise assured by Mr
_Boyle_ that Dr _Haberfield_, one of the Principal _Physicians_ of
_Bohemia_, has had extraordinary Success in the Cure of _Cancers_;
and the Sieur _Gendron_, Doctor of _Physick_ in the University of
_Montpelier_, has done extreamly well on that Head; the latter of
these Gentlemen I cannot mention, without making an Apology for not
Publishing our Annotations on his Enquiries relating to _Cancers_ which
was promised at the latter End of our Chirurgical Remarks, Printed
above a Year ago; but I assure you, _Sir_, I was more inclined for some
Reasons to offer what is therein contained, with several Observations
made with the greatest Exactness, and to which, perhaps I may have an
Opportunity of making several Additions, in a particular Treatise,
so that the whole may conspire to finish a compleat Account of this
Disease. I had at first a Design of enlarging considerably on this
Subject in this Letter by adding various Things, but considering they
might better find a Place in what I just now mentioned, and that you
did not desire an exact History of the Disease, I resolved to omit
them. I shall now proceed to give you some Instances of the Success
of our Method, as being what you are most solicitous of, the Cases
I shall relate shall be each of them different from the other, for I
know you do not approve of that pompous Method of some Persons, that
enumerate abundance of Instances of Cures when perhaps there is no
great Difference in the Cases or the Method of treating them.
The most considerable Case that offered it self during our first
Enquiries into the Nature of _Cancers_, was that of a Woman, who
about Four Years before received a Blow on one of her Breasts, upon
which it began to swell, grow painful, and after some time became all
over livid, and of so prodigious a Bigness and Weight, that she was
obliged to keep it suspended by a Napkin round her Neck: But in regard
our Method was not put in Practice till by other Applications it was
become ulcerated, we shall speak of it as such. The Patient, then, at
this time complained of a very violent Pain, which extended it self
to the Back and Shoulder, by the Communication of the Nerves (for
those of the Breast come from the fifth Pair of the Spine, and from a
_Plexus_ about the _Clavicels_.) To remedy this, she had taken no small
Quantity of _Hypnotic_ Medicines, which, without Doubt, destroy the
due Texture of the Blood, and so become prejudicial to the Patient,
and disadvantagious to the _Surgeon_ that proposes a Cure. But because
Persons generally find some Relief by Opiates, as they retard the
determined Motion of the Blood, straiten the Nerves, and check the
tumultuous and disorderly Influx of the Spirits; so, probably, in
these Cases, their Use will be continued. Besides the acute Pain, the
_Cancer_ was over-spread with fungous Flesh, its lower Part extreamly
hard, knotty, blackish, and its Basis seemed inclinable to fix; the
Matter which was discharged was thin, reddish, and stank abominably.
This was the Condition of this poor Woman, when we first applied our
grand Dissolvent; the Pain she was attended with the first and second
Day after was inconsiderable, nor did she complain of more afterwards,
than would have been procured by the most mild and easy Remedy the
Dispensatory affords. In four Days Time we found a very evident
Alteration for the Better; for the Consistence of the Matter was
changed, and the Surface of the _Cancerous Mass_ became somewhat soft,
we continued the Use of the same Medicine, and in a few Days more some
part of the _Cancer_ came away with the dressing. In short, in about
six Weeks time, the whole Substance was entirely gone, and nothing
remained to be done but to heal the Ulcer, which was effected in about
a Fortnight. During the time she was under Cure we gave her a proper
internal Medicine, not calculated to destroy the Acidity of the Blood,
but to dispose the whole _Cancerous Mass_, with its Appendices to come
away, which might otherwise, as the Seeds of the Disease, cause it to
spring again: Thus was this Patient, (after so great a Fatigue she had
undergone before she came to me) perfectly cured, and has continued so
to this Time, without any manner of Inconvenience as she lately told
me, it being a long time since she has been well.
A Gentlewoman near fifty Years of Age, by some Accident received a Blow
on her left Breast, which in a few Days was succeeded by a considerable
Tumour, whereupon she applyed herself to a _Surgeon_, who immediately
let her Blood, ordered her to take the _Lap. Hibern._ in Posset-Drink,
and embrocated the Breast with _Ol. Succini_: By the use of these Means
the Swelling was much abated, a small Hardness only remaining, which
did not exceed a small Wallnut in Bigness; in this State, with very
little Pain, she continued above a Year; but being persuaded to apply
an _Emp. de Ran. cum Mer._ to it, it encreased very apparently, was
extreamly painful, and in Seven Months time became as big as a large
Egg: After this she made use of a Woman who was reputed Famous for
these Cases; but by One or Two of her Applications the Tumour became
as big again as before: In short it continued to encrease gradually
from that time, till the whole Breast, which was of a monstrous
Bigness, and which was judged not to weigh less than Eight Pound, in
time became entirely _Cancerous_. It was at this time that I saw it the
Skin was very livid, looking sleek and shining, and seemed ready to
open, as being scarce capable of longer containing such a prodigious
hard _Mass_ as laid concealed under it, and was in all Probability as
big as the Breasts of the _Ammonian_ Women, of which _Juvenal_ thus
speaks, _In Meroe, crasso majorem Infante Mamillam_. She had been with
various experienced and reputable _Surgeons_ before, among which was
One not long ago deceased, who was justly looked upon as an Ornament
of his Profession; but not one would willingly attempt a real Cure by
cutting it off, or any other Way: They only prescribed some palliating
Remedies to remove the Pain and prevent its Breaking. I was animated
by my former Successes, and prevailed with my self to undertake it,
not thinking I was at all blameable if my Success in so extraordinary
an Affair contradicted the Prognosticks of so many worthy Gentlemen;
and though it did, I shall at all times think my self obliged to pay
a Deference to them. I began the Cure by removing the Integuments
from the upper Part of the Cancerous Substance, but did not wait
for a Separation of the Slough the Escarotick made for fear of being
incommoded in my Procedure by a Fungus; For this Reason I mixed some
of our Dissolvent with a digestive Ointment, by which Means I had a
Part of the _Cancerous Mass_ came away with it, without any Trouble to
my Patient. I continued this Method of Dressing several Days longer,
with very little Alteration; but upon a Complaint of a Pain between
the Shoulders, I was obliged to change my Medicine, and foment the
_Cancer_ with an Infusion of some of those Herbs that contain many
_Volatile_ attenuating and active Particles. And here I cannot but
remark, by the by, that Applications to the pained Part would have been
of no Effect, as I have many times observed, and particularly in a
Woman which had a Cancerated Breast, that was violently afflicted with
a Pain in her Arm on the same Side, which would not be removed by any
of the Applications the Person that had the Care of her made use of
the affected Arm. To this I might subjoin a very pertinent Case from
_Galen_; but I fear I shall digress too far. The Pain of my Patient’s
Back being removed, I proceeded to apply the Dissolvent, which so
softened the Superficies of the _Cancerous Mass_ that in Three or Four
Days Time I could take off above a Quarter of a Pound of it with the
Edge or Back of my Incision Knife, and my Patient not so much as feel
me, this I continued to accustom my self to, because it would have
been more tedious to have waited for the coming away of the _Cancerous
Mass_ of it self. Sometimes I varied my Applications as I saw Occasion,
but, as my Patient confessed, I scarce put her to any more Pain during
the Time her Breast was dissolving (abating for the Pain of her Back)
than there is in the dressing of an Issue. The prodigious Bigness of
the _Cancerous Mass_ made the Cure the more tedious, for it was above
Three Months before all of it was entirely dissolved and gone; but this
being at length surprisingly and very happily effected the _Cancerous
Ulcer_ (the last Part of the _Cancer_ that came away left) was incarned
and cicatrized by an Infusion of vulnerary Herbs, to which was added
a small Quantity of Tincture of Myrrh: Thus was this Cure entirely
compleated and my Success in it confirmed that _French_ Proverb, which
says, _It is better to be condemned to die by the Doctor, than by the
Judge._ I did not make use of that internal Medicine I mentioned in the
former Case, because here I found no pressing Necessity for the Use of
it, but some other proper Physick was taken to dispose the Ulcer to
heal, as one would have done in any other Case. Upon the whole of this
Cure, I cannot say whether I had more Trouble with the _Cancer_, or
in endeavouring to oblige my Patient to a strict Observance of some of
the Non-Naturals she so often erred in. There is nothing can create a
greater Trouble to the _Surgeon_, than to find Patients negligent of
their Healths, by not endeavouring to prevent or regulate Miscarriages,
nor taking so much Care of themselves, as they expect the _Surgeon_
should take of them. The Rules and Directions of _Physicians_ and
_Surgeons_, given to their Patients, we have Reason to believe were not
so often violated formerly; for in some Places they obliged themselves
very strictly to the Observance of them, and some Historians give us
an Account that _Selucus_ made a Law; that if any of the _Epizephyrian
Locrians_ drank Wine, contrary to the _Physician_’s Direction, though
they escaped the ill Consequents that might have attended it, Death was
their Punishment, because they did contrary to what was prescribed them.
A Woman about Thirty Years of Age had been for a considerable Time
afflicted with a hard painful Tumour under her Tongue, for the Cure of
which she had applied her self to various Persons, but without Success.
When I saw her I found the Swelling to be hard, painful, of a livid
Appearance, and incommoded her so much in speaking, that she could
not pronounce her Words articulately. I was of the Opinion of some
Gentlemen that had seen it before me, _viz._ That it was undoubtedly
_Cancerous_, and as such I proceeded to cure it; but I met with more
Difficulties in this Case than I at first expected, for after I thought
the _Cancerous Substance_ had been entirely dissolved, and I had
reduced the Ulcer to a very narrow Compass, it began to swell again,
and in a short Time enlarged it self to almost the Bigness it was at
first: This put me upon a Necessity of making an Incision into the Body
of the Tumour, that I might commodiously come at the remaining Part,
and so dispose some little Dossels of Lint, armed with our Dissolvent,
that they might have their desired Effect, and this in every Respect
answered what we proposed; so that we proceeded immediately to incarn
the Ulcer, which we did by a Lotion prepared of an Infusion of some
vulnerary Herbs, and _Mel. Rosar_. Thus was this Woman perfectly cured,
and has continued well about a Year.
Because I have always found greater Difficulty in treating _Cancers_
of the Mouth and Lips than those of the Breast, I will here relate an
Instance of one upon the lower Lip that proved extreamly troublesome.
It sometimes happens that one, or more, of those Glands which are
spread on the Inside of the Cheeks and Lips, called _Buccales_ and
_Labiales_, receive some Damage by a Bite or Blow; upon which they
generally tumefy very much, become painful, and in Process of Time (if
proper Means are not made use of) may become _Cancerous_. Such was the
Case of a Woman about Thirty Years of Age, who having had a Blow on her
lower Lip, neglected it till it was considerably tumefied, grew very
painful, and became extreamly troublesome to her. The Circumference of
the Swelling when I saw it, which was many Months after the Blow was
received, was very much inflamed, and a small Quantity of _Icorous_
Matter discharged from several small Pustules, which over-spread it;
the Middle, which was the Body of the _Cancer_, was hard, of a whitish
Colour, and moveable; it’s Sides being only connected to the contiguous
Parts by some small Filaments that were detached from it. The same
Thing Doctor _Gendron_ has discovered in an ulcerated _Cancer_ on the
Forehead of the Servant of a certain _Marquess_, as he observes in his
Third _Chapter_ of the Tract we have before mentioned. I began with my
Patient by applying cool and temperate Remedies, till the Inflammation
was considerably abated; after this I applied our Dissolvent, which
operated so mildly that my Patient was not sensible of near so much
Pain as before she was apprehensive of: In short, the Body of the
_Cancer_ was removed and a good digested Matter discharged from the
Sore. Now all the Difficulty was after what Manner we should proceed
to dispose the little _Cancerous_ Branches in the Skin to come away,
but this we effected after the following Manner; the Consistent of
the Medicine we before applyed, was such as was no way qualified for
rooting out the Cancerous Filaments, whereupon we were obliged to
procure it’s Dissolution in a proper Menstruum, though it required a
considerable Time to do it; by this means, we soon found, that what
before was ineffectual was now capable of effecting what we desired.
This being done, the Ulcer was incarned by a Sarcotick Infusion (for I
never use Ointments in these Cases) and cicatrized by the common drying
Plaisters. It is to be observed, that the Scar still continues hollow
(it having been healed near Two Years) and not like those that are the
Consequents of well ordered simple Ulcers.
The following Observation contains an Account of one that was cured of
an incipient _Cancer_ in her Breast, by Internals. I was the rather
inclined to set down the whole Process of this Cure, because by
these, or such like Medicines, Persons under the same Circumstances
may perhaps be cured, though by some they may be thought incurable.
The Case is this; A Gentlewoman, Thirty Years of Age, of a thin
spare Habit of Body, by some Accident received a Blow upon One of her
Breasts, which put her to an immediate Pain, and that very acute;
but it lessened upon her being let Blood, and the Application of a
discutient Plaister: However, in a few Days, some of the glandulous
Grains of the Breast became indurated, and in Process of Time, by their
Increase, they were rendered painful. At this Time she sought out for
fresh Advice, and continued Two Months under the Care of a Person she
was recommended to; but Things not succeeding according to Expectation,
she became a Patient to Three or Four more. During this Time the Lump
continued to encrease but slowly, and at the Expiration of Six Months
it appeared to be a very hard painful Tumour in the Middle of the
Breast, but no bigger than a Hen-Egg; whereupon it was thought proper
to commence her Method of Cure by exhibiting the following _Pills_. ℞
_Pill. Tartar. Quercetan._ ʒß. _Calomel_ gr. viii. _F. Pill._ N^{o.}
5. These were likewise continued twice a Week during the whole Cure;
after this, was ordered the following Infusion, ℞ _Vin. Rhenan._ ℔ii.
_Milleped._ ℥ii. _Ocul. Canc._ ℥ß _Croci._ ʒii. This was not to be
taken alone, but when it had stood Four and Twenty Hours, three or
four Spoons-full of it was to be mixed with a Draught of the ensuing
Dietetick-Drink, and taken in the Morning, and at Four of the Clock in
the Afternoon. ℞ _Rad. Sarsaparill._ ℥ii. _Chinæ_ ʒvi. _Fig. Sassafr._
℥i. _Corn. Cervi_, ℥_Sem. Correand._ ℥ß. _Sant. Rub._ ʒii. _Coq. in
aq. Font. Congiis 4 per Horæ dimidium, deinde stent Clause super
Cineres Calidos per Horas_ xii; _postea ebulliant ad tertiæ Partis
Consumptionem_. By the Continuance of these Means about two Months,
and observing a regular Method of living, the Cure of this Patient was
effected; though by some she had been looked upon as incurable, unless
she would submit the cutting it out, which is not often attended with
Success.
Perhaps, _Sir_, here you may object, that it is acting disengenuously,
and not like a Friend, to give you an Account of those Persons only
where I have succeeded. To this I answer, that excepting one Woman,
that was emaciated almost to the last Degree by the excessive Discharge
of a fætid Icorous Matter from her Breast, and an Abscess under her
Arm, and who was carried off by a violent Loosness, I never had a
Person miscarried under my Care, where I proposed a Cure. That poor
Woman I suffered my self to be persuaded to take care of, having but
little Prospect of effecting it, yet my Endeavours succeeded so well,
that had it been in our Power to put a Stop to her Loosness, I am of
opinion she might have been cured.
What has been hitherto said, I do not question but is sufficient to
satisfy you, that this formidable _Disease_ is not so rebellious, but
that it may be sometimes conquered by Art; and I might here relate a
Case I have at this present Writing, wherein not only a Part of the
_Cancer_ was fixed, but there were hard _Cancerous_ Knots extended
to the Arm-pit; and yet this seems to be almost well; the Ulcer that
remains, and which heals daily, not being much broader than a Crown
Piece. But in regard the Patient is not entirely cured, I shall reserve
this Relation untill another Opportunity; though I will embrace the
present to assure you that I am,
_SIR_,
_Your very respectful Brother,
and Humble Servant,_
W^m. Beckett.
_Hatton-Garden,
July 12, 1711._
_A Solution of some Curious_ Problems _concerning_ Cancers.
PROBLEM I.
_Whether the Cancerous Juice is Corrosive, or not._