THE TREATMENT OF CANCER.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 260, 31 March 1875, Page 2

THE TREATMENT OF CANCER.

The terrible disease called cancer, which, we believe,, is less rare in this place than is supposed by many, is brought prominently forward by a layman, who not only professes to edre some of the worst forms of this disease, but also gives certificates that he has cured, and invites the members of the medical profession to examine certain patients who, lie affirms, have by his treatment been cured of the disease. It is tie customary allegation of quacks, that they have almost miraculously effected cures of diseases of “ long standing,” and we know that quackery of this kind has wrought, and still works, much evil to both the mental and bodily health of many patients. Mr. Samuel Hood, who professes to have made these cures, is, we believe, an unlettered man; but many a man hides great genius and capacity under bad grammar, and there not a few who have been able to describe most important scientific discoveries in English, which is not the English of the schools. Not alone from the advertisement, nor from the certificate thereto appended have we heard of the cures alleged to have been effected by Samuel Hood’s treatment; but we have other information from quarters intimately concerned, and gathered and certified to by no mean observer, —from such as can render a reason for the belief in these cures. We I learn that the medical profession is jealously hedged round by precedent, I etiquette, and formalisms which che'-k I the generous warmth that marks the* I youthful M.D., just emerging from the first flush of his university .nrfliors. We should say remember Jenner and be wise. Not that Hood is a Jenner, but that if Hood’s alh ;ed and testified cures are what they arc said to be, “m spite of pride, in erring grammar’s spite,” we suggest that for the sake of sufferers the doctors should accept the invitation to test the justice, or otherwise of this man’s allegations. If he is right, if he has by certain treatment, known only to himself, performed certain cures which the customary treatment by the profession had failed to accomplish then let him and his work obtain the recognition they merit, and sufferers be made to benefit thereby. If, on the other hand, what he affirms will not bear the light of that strict investigation which he courts ; if he is a quack and a charlatan, let him be denounced as such, and credulous people be saved from his devices and pretences. On these alternative issues, we presume, Samuel Hood bases his application for a medical deputation to make the requisite examination into his professed cures. We know nothing of Mr. Hood; but the salutary influence of his treatment iu very severe cases of cancer, are spoken to by persons on whose judgment and observation we think very considerable reliance can be placed. It may be that the treatment is nothing new, but if it is at present not used, if it is effective, it will not be in keeping with that regard for the true interests of science and surgery, if medical men treat such a question with that lofty disdain with which the lettered and accomplished professor oftentimes treats the siw called empiric, who may plead tlrefc lessons of experience against the morp logical philosophy of the profession It may bethat the case is simple, most probably it is. We find by the November number of the Edinburgh Medical Journal, that an entirely new remedy for cancer has been discovered by Mr. Fawcett Battye, who narrates his experience. His remedy is silica, powdered very fine, and administered internally twice or thrice a day, in one grain doses, combined with a third of a grain of morphia. He found this to diminish the pain in a marked decree ami by the tenth day to disperse it altogether. He docs not, however precisely claim that the patients recovered. They were relieved and benefited, and when they took it continuously the disease was retarded. No satisfactory explanation of its action is advanced. In the cases treated by Samuel Hood, the claim is for complete cures, restoration to perfect health, under circumstances which, we arc informed, W’ere deemed both by patients and physicians to be hopeless. \\ e trust that the profession will not allow any ideas of dignify to stand in thew’av of testing whether the alleged “ specific ” for cancer is a reality ora sham. — Weekly News.