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SCIRRHUS AxND CANCER.

Wlieu a scirrhous tumour is first discovered, the patient oughtto observe a proper regimen, and to take twice or thrice a-week adose of the common purging mercurial pill. Some blood may al-so be let, and the part affected may be gently rubbed twice a-day,with a little of the mercurial ointment, and kept warm with fur orflannel. The food must be light, and an English pint of the de-coction of woods or sarsaparilla may be drank daily. I havesometimes discussed hard tumours, which had the appearance ofbeginning cancers, by a course of this kind.

To allay pain and irritation, and, probably, thereby retard theprogress of the disease, opium may be given internally, and like-wise applied externally, mixed with the different preparations oflead used as sedatives and discutients ;* and much may be done inall incipient scirrhous tumours by repeatedly blistering the part,having first had recourse to the frequent applications of leeches,occasional purgatives, and a cooling diet.

Should the tumour, however, not yield to this treatment, but, onthe contrary, become larger and harder, it will be proper to extir-pate it either by the knife or caustic. Indeed, whenever this canbe done with safety the sooner it is done the better. It can an-swer no purpose to extirpate a cancer after the constitution isruined, or the whole mass of humours corrupted by it. This, how-ever, is the common way, which makes the operation so seldom»ucceed. Scirrhous tumours are often removed with perfect safe-ty, and thereby prevented from degenerating into true cancer,when extirpation is not delayed too long ; but after a tumour ofthis description has ulcerated, thereby assuming the cancerouscharacter, and has afforded an opportunity for an absorption ofthe matter into the system, there is every reason to suppose that acomplete cure seldom, if ever, be effected. Few people will sub-mit to the extirpation till death stares them in the face, whereas,if it were done early the patient's life would not be endangered bythe operation, and it would generally prove a radical cure.

When the cancer is so situated that it cannot be cut off, or ifthe patient will not submit to the operation, such medicines as willmitigate or relieve the most urgent symptoms may be used. Dr.Home says, that half a grain of the corrosive sublimate of mercu-ry, dissolved in a proper quantity of brandy, and taken night andmorning, will often be of service in cancers of the face and nose.He likewise recommends an infusion of the Solanum, or night-shade, in cancers of the breasts.

But the medicine most in repute at present for this disease ishemlock. Dr. Stork, physician at Vienna, has of late recommend-ed the extract of this plant as very efficacious in cancers of everykind. The Doctor says, he has given some hundred weights of itwithout ever hurting any body, and often with manifest advantage.

'Talie Cerate of Superacetate of Lead,I ounce.Opium, in Powder, >¡ drachm.Mil them for an ointment.

Take a Plaster of the Oxyd of Lead, andapply it to the tumour.

Take Solution of Acetate of Ammonia,t ounce.Solution of Acetate of Lead,

30 drops.Pure Water. 1 ounce.

Tincture of Opium, 1¿ drachm

Make a lotion.