The arrest of growth in four cases of cancer by a powerful interrupted voltaic current / by J. Inglis-Parsons.

  • Parsons, J. Inglis, 1857-1928.
Date:
1889
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The arrest of growth in four cases of cancer by a powerful interrupted voltaic current / by J. Inglis-Parsons. 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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    A current was then passed through the solution with an intensity of 200 milliamperes until the whole of the iodide of potash in the two outer glasses was decomposed. On testing the centre glass, it was found to contain as much iodide of potash as before, although in the two outer glasses it was all decomposed. The resistance of this ap- paratus was so great that I was obliged to go to the Electric Apparatus Company, and do the experiment in the vaults of the Junior United Service Club, where an un- limited supply of volts could be obtained. A second experiment was then tried with water in the outer glasses and a solution of iodide of potash in the centre. The current was passed as before, but no decomposition took place in the centre glass. A third experiment was tried on the web of the frog's foot, and watched through the micros- cope. At the positive pole a coagulation took place, with exudation of blood from the capillaries. At the negative pole a collection of hydrogen bubbles could be seen. Between the poles no change could be observed, and the circulation went on as before. Finally, a strong current was passed through a fibroid tumour, soon after removal from the body, for a period of several hours. On making sections of the portion between the poles, no change could be detected. All these experiments demonstrated in a conclusive way that the passage of a constant current does not cause any decomposition between the poles, although there must of necessity be an exchange of atoms between the molecules. Recently, I have had an opportunity of examining sections of a fibroid tumour that I had thoroughly treated with a constant current, and which was subsequently removed by Dr. Travers on account of its size. No change could be found between the poles, showing that the con- clusions drawn from the previous experiments were correct. Subsequent experience has shown me that repeated appli- cations of the constant current, with an intensity of 200 milliamperes, is unable to control the increase of a quickly- growing fibro-cystic tumour. But I noticed, in treating cases of fibro-myomata of the uterus by a constant current, that when, as occasionally happens, through an imperfection of the circuit, the current was suddenly interrupted, marked signs of disturbance followed, such as rise of temperature, considerable pain, and malaise. Rightly or wrongly, I put this down to some destruction of tissue occurring in the tumour, and, if this conclusion were correct, the means