" Phantom " Tumours.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 76

" Phantom " Tumours.

There are certain tumours, known in medicine as "phantom" tumours, which do not really represent growths, but are due rather to unusual 'con tractions of muscles. The nature of these particular tumours is readily ascertained when the patient U put under chloroform. This anesthetic- causes relaxation of the muscles, and *he disappearance of the supposed tumour. But it is certain that even roal tumours will occasionally deappear of tbemselv<»s and without apparent cause. In some rare cases even of caucer they have been found to vanish by degrees. We can only suppose in such a case hat. some curative bodily action has come to the front, and has caused absorption of the growth, but as regards the exact condition under which the natural cure .takes nlpoe we are at present very much* in the dark. Altearations in the bleed supply of tumours, for example, whereby the nourishment of the growth was interfered with or evA off, may account in some easels f or the disappearance of the growths, but, as medical experience showa, tihere is nothing cither mysterious or unnatural in the disappearance of a tumour any more than can be ound in the matter of its growth.