It now remains, that I should say something concerning cancers; on
which subject I shall be brief, as it has been treated of by very able
hands[55]. If the complaint be recent, the constitution good, if
internal medicines and outward applications have produced no effect,
the vitiated part must be extirpated before the disease takes root, and
communicates the infection farther. But the greater number of those
who have the misfortune to be attacked with this disease, putting off
the amputation from time to time, it happens when they do resolve on
it, either that it accelerates their death, or the humour falls upon
another part: For this reason, the operation for extirpating it, should
be performed much more seldom than it is[56]; and it were greatly to
be wished, that physicians would endeavour to find out some remedy for
this horrid disease, without having recourse to amputation; but it is
not my intention to dwell on this topic.