Cancer: Its Cause and Treatment, Volume 1 (of 2)Bulkley, Lucius Duncan
Science
Cancer: Its Cause and Treatment, Volume 1 (of 2)
Bulkley, Lucius Duncan
Cancer
After ulceration has set in, either in primary or recurrent cases,
proper local medication is very important. The ordinary micro-organisms,
finding a suitable nidus, very readily germinate and add greatly to the
suppuration, and consequent exhaustion and pain, and by their toxins,
aid also in the general contamination of the blood and tissues. Hydrogen
peroxide, laid on with pledgets of absorbent cotton is often of great
service in changing the conditions of the part, and when followed by
Russian oil, also applied with cotton, makes a most satisfactory
dressing. Adrenalin 1‒1000 is also often of service, both in checking
active hemorrhage, and in relieving pain, and shrinking up the
granulations. Ichthyol, 10 to 25 per cent. in water, and permanganate of
potash in water, 1 to 2 per cent., are also often of service, likewise
acetate of aluminium, 3 to 5 per cent.: methylin blue and fuchsin in
watery solution, 1 to 2 per cent. were formerly much used, and often
served a good purpose. It is understood, however, that none of these
measures have any great curative effect on cancer, but as contributory
elements they should never be neglected. Ichthyol ointment (℞ Ichthyol
ʒss-ʒi Zinc Oxid ʒss Unguent. Aquæ Rosæ ℥i) often proves most
satisfactory, spread on thin layers of absorbent cotton, and changed
several times daily, after soaking the part with one of the liquids
above mentioned.
Time does not permit us to go into the matter of the X-ray, which
undoubtedly has often been of great service in certain cases of cancer:
it should be carefully but systematically employed, once or twice a week
in connection with other medical treatment; radium can also be of real
service in these cases. In some inoperable cases a mild surgery,
especially with the actual cautery, in the way of removing exuberant
masses, which would have to slough off, can add much to the good
progress of the case, and the occasional excision of cutaneous nodules
removes just so much cancerous tissue, which by its secretion would
poison the system.
In our study thus far we have seen that there is much to be done for
cancer besides the surgical removal of the offending mass, the existence
of which is an opprobrium to medical science, which has not thus far
guarded mankind against it: and until time has passed, and by right
living and proper medical attention cancer has ceased to be produced, or
become greatly diminished, surgery will probably be a great factor in
its treatment, as its mortality statistics are constantly improving. But
there can be no question but that with the adoption of proper dietary
and medical treatment, even from the first suspicion of a malignant
growth, and before, as also after operation, the final results of
operative procedure will be even far better than have been yet attained.
LECTURE VI
CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
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