Observations on the Causes, Symptoms, and Nature of Scrofula or Kings Evil, Scurvy, and Cancer | Page 2

either of a scrofulous nature, or the remains of a certain disease. I am confident the pretender NEVER saw a real case of cancer of the mouth and throat; and the very assertion that portions of bone have been exfoliated in these cases, gives the lie direct to the whole, for it is a fact that cancer never causes bone to exfoliate, and in this I am borne out by every medical authority. It may cause the long bones to become fragile, so that the patient may have a fractured limb from a very slight cause, or it may convert bone into a dense carcinomatous structure; but exfoliation will never take place. Then as to the occurrence of confirmed cancer in the mouth and throat, I have no hesitation in stating that it rarely if ever occurs, and that if it ever did, it was a perfectly incurable disease; and I could cite a host of authorities to prove my assertion. And who is to oppose these great authorities? What man with experience so extensive--with knowledge so profound--with sagacity so searching--with learning so deep--shall declare that he himself has seen and treated sixty cases of true carcinomatous disease of the mouth and throat? Who is this Goliah of Surgery? Who is the judge in this matter to whose opinion he commands us to bow? Reader! the fact is, that the assertion is so glaringly false, that if only a particle of shame enter into his composition, it must betray its existence.
This, however, is only one part of the fabricated statements which have been delusively put forth to deceive and misguide the public; but I presume it would be a waste of time to attempt to prove the abominable practices of these empirics; not that it would be a difficult matter to do so, for were I so disposed I could adduce such a body of evidence as would demolish their empty pretensions with as much ease as the sun dispels the morning vapours. But I think my readers will agree with me that I have displayed enough of their charlatanry to satisfy any man who lays claim to anything like common sense.
Leaving, then, these literary delinquents to their HONEST reflections, I have merely to observe, that the medicines and applications which I am in the habit of using, are principally selected from indigenous plants; and I cannot but regret that the medical botany of our own country should have been so much neglected; and I am not singular in this opinion, as many eminent medical men have expressed themselves to the same effect; and, indeed, many of the plants which I use are now frequently resorted to by the faculty. I claim no specific in the treatment of those diseases which come under my cognizance; I merely state that my mode of managing those cases has been extremely successful, and refer the reader to the following cases as a proof of my assertion.
It will be seen that many of these cases have been of long standing. This has been done for the purpose of showing that the medicines and treatment generally exert a permanent effect on the constitution of the patient, thus allaying the scruples of many persons, that although they may be successful for a certain period, they may not prevent a relapse. This may be perfectly true in some cases; all the patients in these cases were perfectly well when this pamphlet went to press; yet I will not positively assert that they shall always continue so. This assurance would be foolish and indiscreet, because there is scarcely one disease to which the human frame is subject, which may not, on some peculiar exciting cause being applied, be again brought into action, although the person may have been perfectly relieved from the first attack. Instances of this description frequently occur in secondary attacks of measles, small-pox, scarlet fever, &c.; and surely it may occur in a disease like scrofula, the nature and treatment of which has "perplexed the researches and baffled the efforts of the most eminent writers and practitioners of Europe." At any rate, when we see cases of twenty years' standing, and upwards, there is but little room for suspicion of a relapse.
In conclusion, I have to beg that the reader will attentively peruse the observations on Scrofula and Cancer; as I consider it highly important that every individual should be fully acquainted with the symptoms of these, too often, intractable diseases, and that their approaches should be crushed at the onset. As to the cases, the reader is at full liberty to make every inquiry; and being based upon the foundation of truth, I have no apprehension as to the result proving perfectly satisfactory, whether such inquiry be directed by an honest impulse, or by