Some considerations concerning cancer of the uterus, especially its palliative treatment in its later stages / by Andrew F. Currier.

  • Currier, Andrew Fay, 1851-
Date:
[1887]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Some considerations concerning cancer of the uterus, especially its palliative treatment in its later stages / by Andrew F. Currier. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    4. By auto-inocnlation, the infecting epithelium being directly transferred or transplanted from the primary growth to the structure which is immediately contiguous. The ex- istence of such a method has been seriously questioned by some writers; but well-authenticated cases are on record in which it has occurred. In cancer of the uterus it is at least extremely probable that such propagation occurs, as, for example, when epithelium from the vaginal portion of the cervix is transplanted upon the adjacent vaginal mucous membrane. All the foregoing points were clearly stated in the mas- terly papers of Coats and Macewen at the Glasgow discus- sion already referred to, and their order is that which was followed by Macewen. As yet very little has been said in regard to the opera- tive treatment of these growths, and this is the only ra- tional method of procedure until the great discovery shall be made which Paget has prophesied of a potent agent which, tahen internally, shall alter the condition of the can- cerous subject in a manner analogous to the effect of mer- cury upon syphilis. Without going into the details of the various partial and would-be radical operations, permit me to say that I thoroughly believe in them as the best thing we have at present. Schroder, with indomitable faith and persever- ance, has said, “ If but one in twenty recovers, still I shall operate ” ; and I do not agree with Knowsley Thornton in his belief that both the vaginal and the abdominal opera- tions will soon drop out of surgical practice (“Brit. Med. Jour.,” Dec. 8, 1883). Even if the limit of life after such operations shall not exceed two years, it seems to me to be worth while to give a woman a reprieve for that period, as long as men like Brennecke can report eighteen consecutive hysterectomies without a death (see Post, “Am, Jour, Med,