When these means have either been neglected, or fail when employed, and
the schirrus begins to inflame, there is little hope of performing a
cure by either local or general applications; and extirpation affords
the only chance of recovery which can be depended on. But, as it is
not always at the very first certain that the schirrus has assumed the
cancerous inflammation, and is not curable, the operation ought not to
be advised in the first instance, or upon the very first appearance
of the pain, or symptoms of commencing inflammation; on the contrary,
we ought to have recourse to local bleeding, the use of issues, mild
diet, and perhaps the use of cicuta; but if these remedies do not
evidently arrest the progress of the disease, diminish the pain very
considerably, and make the tumor perceptibly softer and less, in the
course of a few weeks, we ought, without hesitation, to advise the
removal of the part, which I shall presently consider.
The local bleeding is to be performed with leeches, which are
preferable to the scarificator, being attended with less irritation.
Three leeches may be applied to the part every second day, as has
been proposed by some writers on this disease. This practice must
be continued for a considerable time; and, during the intervals of
bleeding, cloths dipped in cold water ought to be applied. If, in the
course of a month, the tumor becomes freer from pain, and softer, we
may apply the leeches only every third day, and continue this for
another month, and afterwards either persist for some time longer in
the same way, or repeat the application at longer intervals, according
to circumstances. But if, on the contrary, the tumor become rather
larger, and more painful, as sometimes happens, when the disease is
farther advanced before we begin, and if the constitution suffer by the
repeated evacuations, we must desist.
Issues may be formed, either by introducing a small seton superficially
on each side of the tumor, or by blistering the part, and afterwards
keeping it open with savine ointment. The latter of these methods
is not admissible, when the disease has proceeded so far as to make
the skin adhere to the gland, and become puckered; indeed, at this
period, issues formed in any way ought never to be advised, unless
the operation will not be consented to; because the chance of their
producing a cure is very little, and we lose time by trusting to them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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