The old methods of treating cancer compared with the new / by John Pattison.

  • Pattison, John.
Date:
[1857]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The old methods of treating cancer compared with the new / by John Pattison. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Professor Miller says, “ It is only a small number of the many cases which present themselves to the surgeon which war- rant operation,” M, Velpeau, of Paris, thinks “That half the tumours found in the breast ought not to be interfered with.” Mayo, in his “ Outlines of Pathology,” says, “ After amputa- tion of a schirrous breast, under the most favourable circum- stances, I believe that in ninety-nine cases out of one hundred the disease returns.^’ In a Eeport “ On the Utility of Surgical Operations in Cancer,” presented to the Trench Academy of Sciences by Dr. Leroy d'’£toilles, in 1844, it was shown, from documents fur- nished by 174 practitioners, that the average time from operation until death is one year and five months; and he adds, that in operating early it does not appear to be the fact that the tumour is prevented from degenerating. The late Mr. Liston wrote; “ Eecourse may be had to the knife in some cases, but the circumstances must be very favour- able indeed to induce a surgeon to recommend, or warrant him in undertaking any operation for the removal of malignant disease.” The late Professor Colles, of Dublin, wrote: “Tor my own part, it is an operation I would not press on a patient, or her friends at all; it is one by which very little service is rendered at any time; after submitting to it, the patient will get a relapse, and generally sink within two years.” Mr. Paget says, “ He is not aware of a single case of reco- very ; and as to tlie influence of an operation in prolonging hfe, 1 believe that the removal of the local disease makes no material difference in the average duration of life.” These are the opinions of a few of the many men who have written against the use of the knife. Prom their professional status and experience, their views ought to have great weight and influence,—not o)ily upon the conscientious surgeon, but they ought also to be known by the patients themselves, before they submit to such a fearful operation—an operation, even in the most