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A "CURE" FOR CANCER.
504 few remarks
on the course which has been pursued towards be defended upon the principle of the assassin who strikes the I am induced to do so from the perusal of the very blow upon his innocent victim, and hides himself from the manly letter of Mr. Owen Fox in your last number, and also consequences of his act. Dare they shrink from that inquiry? of that of a brother member of the Association. More par- If they do, it will be only another illustration of the axiom, ticularly, however, am I anxious to take my present course that " Cruelty and cowardice are born of a common parent." from a conviction of the urgent necessity of some decisivesteps I fear that I have written strongly upon this matter, perhaps being taken by the friends of the only independent medical too strongly, but I confess that my indignation has been moved at the manner in which your opponents have thought right to journal which exists. Like Mr. Fox, I too can boast of having been a subscriber to attack you. I admire-who would not?-the generous sym. THE LANCET for a quarter of a century. During that long pathy which was evinced towards a professional brother who period I have carefully watched your exertions in the cause of was supposed to have been injured. Nay, more: I believe the rights and privileges of medical practitioners, and your con- that that sympathy, in the majority, was pure and genuine. sistent and unwearied endeavours for the "honour and dignity of That majority had acted upon a generous impulse, but they the profession."Most anxiously have I devoted my best energies will forgive me for saying that they had not then inquired to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion respecting your conduct into the truth of the statements upon which they were called in reference to those transactions which have lately attracted to adjudicate. The accused was condemned, and his defence so much attention. I have weighed well the evidence that was made after a verdict of guilty had been returned. But on has been adduced on both sides of the question, and I am com- cool reflection, it could not fail to have struck them that the pelled to express my astonishment and indignation at what I attack had been made by interested parties and personal sincerely believe to be the gross injustice to which you have enemies. They could not have failed to have observed that been subjected. If such is to be the reward of a man who has every journalist who excited their better feelings under the ’been "bold and honest enough"to stand forward asour pro- plea of injustice to a brother, and the "honour and dignity of tector and advocate upon every occasion, where, I would ask, the profession," had the lowest motives for his assault. When Would any man cognizant that majority shall have had time to reflect upon the part they are we to look for his successor ? of the "huge ingratitude" to which you have been exposed have pursued towards you, it is not too much to expect that ever emerge from our ranks to lead us on to fight with our they will, with the generosity which characterized their former oppressors, to counsel us with his advice, or to sacrifice the proceedings, do justice to yourself. May they not be expected energies of a life in the cause of those who requite him as you to inquire into the nature of the evidence upon which they have been requited by some. amongst us. I would willingly have pronounced a verdict? May they not even by this time pass without notice the interested slanderers,-the editors of have discovered that that evidence was entirely ex parte, and rivalpublications, who have too palpably made an attempt by from interested persons? and may they not feel some indignathe late transactions to raise the circulation of their own tion against those who have misled them as to the main facts periodicals. But I cannot do so without expressing my con- of the case? I have that faith in my professional brethren to viction that the conduct of these persons has inflicted an injury believe that it must be so. With this belief, I beg to subscribe on the medical press such as it will probably not recover myself from in our time. Leaving out of consideration altogether the Yours obediently, mean and contemptible spirit which has actuated your oppoANOTHER MEMBER OF THE PROVINCIAL MEDICAL AND SURGICAL ASSOCIATION’. nents, for the furtherance of mere trade speculations, I would place my objection to their proceedings on a broader and a higher basis. I would place it on the principles of justice and fair play-principles which it has alwaysbeen the boast of A "CURE" FOR CANCER. Englishmen to act upon and uphold. How have they been To the Editor of THE LANCET. upheld by the journals which seek to compete with your as attention has been drawn to a pamphlet issued by rivals ? I blush for mv profession at the answer that must be SIR,—My " a Doctor" late of Bedford-square, who professes to man! Pattison, and conscientious They given by every have condemned you upon the ex pa2,te statements ofinterested, cure cancer by some peculiar treatment unknown to the proand I fear malignant, enemies, and they have not even had fession, wherein he states that a certain patient, who had been the common manliness to insert a single word in your defence. afflicted with cancer in the tongue for fiveyears, and amputaherself Nay, more, the editor of our journal was not content to scrape tion recommended as the only chance of cure, had put by his treattogether every slander against you personally, but he had the under his care, and the disease entirely removed unblushing effrontery to publish to the members of the ment, and that subsequently she died of some internal complaint. Association that he had been paid by "two gentlemen" to Allow me, through your journal, to declare emphatically that circulate those slanders to every member of the profession. A such is a gross mis-statement ; that Mrs. Jarvis, who was my grosser violation of the privileges and independence of the mother-in-law, went back to the north in a worse state than press was never perpetrated. I promise you, at the forthcoming she came; so much so, that her friends had the greatest fear meeting at Manchester, that, if no other member of the Associa- of her arriving there; that the cancer increased so fearfully tion should forestal me in my purpose, I will demand from that it was with the utmost difficulty the least nourishment Dr. Cormack the names of those two persons. The answer could be administered to her; and that, finally, she died through 3nay perhaps throw some light upon the plot that was the cancer having eaten its way to one of the superior veins, formed against you. Should Dr. Cormack "make no sign," and caused her to bleed to death. I have friends high in the the inference will be irresistible. If such things be permitted, medical profession who can vouch for the truth of the foregoing what security have we for the honest fulfilment of his duties statement; and as to her being able to eat, I declare most as editor ? What is to prevent him from being paid to pro- solemnly that the only nourishment she could take was a raw up in tea, and that with the greatest difficulty and mulgate opinions directly at variance with our interests ?-to egg beaten the shelving, for instance, of the Reform Bill of the Associa- pain. I enclose the portion of the pamphlet, And am, Sir, yours obediently, tion ; for making the journal subservient to the private J. B. HANNAFORD. interests of a clique; or to the support of quacks and quackery? At the proper time I shall demand an answer to these inquiries. Trovalga Slate Company, Baltic Wharf, Commercial Road, Lambeth, April 20th, 1854. If the journal of the Association is to be prostituted to personal and party objects, the sooner we cease to have a journal The following is the case above alluded to :-" Mrs. J., aged the better. sixty, from the north of England, has had cancer of the tongue Sir, you have professed in a late number of THE LANCET, for five years, and amputation recommended as the only chance your willingness to submit the Free Hospital matter to the of cure. The cancer is situated on the right edge of the tongue, Manchester Medico-Ethical Association. Do you abide by a little behind its middle. Complains of severe and constant that resolution? If so, I request to know whether your pain, speaking causes much suffering, and is difficult and indischallenge has been accepted. The tribunal is unexception- tinct, has no power of mastication, and is obliged to subsist able ; and if you have shrunk from the ordeal which you entirely upon liquids. On the 3rd A pril, having expressed my yourself haveproposed, I promise you that, from the mo- unfavonrable opinion, I commenced treatment by applying my ment I hear that you falter in meeting the charges against remedy for five minutes only at a time. (I general apply it you before that highly respectable body, I cease either to from eight to twelve hours.) On the 21st June, the disease take an interest in your welfare, or to believeyou innocent was removed ; early in July she returned home free from pain, of the accusations brought against you. Equally, on the con- except when eating, which, however, she was able to do, and trary, if your object to an inquiry before unpre- her general health much improved. In the end of August, I an intimation of her death, from some inward comjudiced and. disinterested judges, I cannot understand upon received what principle their conduct is to be defended. It could only plaint."
you.
right-thinking
opponents
on the course which has been pursued towards be defended upon the principle of the assassin who strikes the I am induced to do so from the perusal of the very blow upon his innocent victim, and hides himself from the manly letter of Mr. Owen Fox in your last number, and also consequences of his act. Dare they shrink from that inquiry? of that of a brother member of the Association. More par- If they do, it will be only another illustration of the axiom, ticularly, however, am I anxious to take my present course that " Cruelty and cowardice are born of a common parent." from a conviction of the urgent necessity of some decisivesteps I fear that I have written strongly upon this matter, perhaps being taken by the friends of the only independent medical too strongly, but I confess that my indignation has been moved at the manner in which your opponents have thought right to journal which exists. Like Mr. Fox, I too can boast of having been a subscriber to attack you. I admire-who would not?-the generous sym. THE LANCET for a quarter of a century. During that long pathy which was evinced towards a professional brother who period I have carefully watched your exertions in the cause of was supposed to have been injured. Nay, more: I believe the rights and privileges of medical practitioners, and your con- that that sympathy, in the majority, was pure and genuine. sistent and unwearied endeavours for the "honour and dignity of That majority had acted upon a generous impulse, but they the profession."Most anxiously have I devoted my best energies will forgive me for saying that they had not then inquired to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion respecting your conduct into the truth of the statements upon which they were called in reference to those transactions which have lately attracted to adjudicate. The accused was condemned, and his defence so much attention. I have weighed well the evidence that was made after a verdict of guilty had been returned. But on has been adduced on both sides of the question, and I am com- cool reflection, it could not fail to have struck them that the pelled to express my astonishment and indignation at what I attack had been made by interested parties and personal sincerely believe to be the gross injustice to which you have enemies. They could not have failed to have observed that been subjected. If such is to be the reward of a man who has every journalist who excited their better feelings under the ’been "bold and honest enough"to stand forward asour pro- plea of injustice to a brother, and the "honour and dignity of tector and advocate upon every occasion, where, I would ask, the profession," had the lowest motives for his assault. When Would any man cognizant that majority shall have had time to reflect upon the part they are we to look for his successor ? of the "huge ingratitude" to which you have been exposed have pursued towards you, it is not too much to expect that ever emerge from our ranks to lead us on to fight with our they will, with the generosity which characterized their former oppressors, to counsel us with his advice, or to sacrifice the proceedings, do justice to yourself. May they not be expected energies of a life in the cause of those who requite him as you to inquire into the nature of the evidence upon which they have been requited by some. amongst us. I would willingly have pronounced a verdict? May they not even by this time pass without notice the interested slanderers,-the editors of have discovered that that evidence was entirely ex parte, and rivalpublications, who have too palpably made an attempt by from interested persons? and may they not feel some indignathe late transactions to raise the circulation of their own tion against those who have misled them as to the main facts periodicals. But I cannot do so without expressing my con- of the case? I have that faith in my professional brethren to viction that the conduct of these persons has inflicted an injury believe that it must be so. With this belief, I beg to subscribe on the medical press such as it will probably not recover myself from in our time. Leaving out of consideration altogether the Yours obediently, mean and contemptible spirit which has actuated your oppoANOTHER MEMBER OF THE PROVINCIAL MEDICAL AND SURGICAL ASSOCIATION’. nents, for the furtherance of mere trade speculations, I would place my objection to their proceedings on a broader and a higher basis. I would place it on the principles of justice and fair play-principles which it has alwaysbeen the boast of A "CURE" FOR CANCER. Englishmen to act upon and uphold. How have they been To the Editor of THE LANCET. upheld by the journals which seek to compete with your as attention has been drawn to a pamphlet issued by rivals ? I blush for mv profession at the answer that must be SIR,—My " a Doctor" late of Bedford-square, who professes to man! Pattison, and conscientious They given by every have condemned you upon the ex pa2,te statements ofinterested, cure cancer by some peculiar treatment unknown to the proand I fear malignant, enemies, and they have not even had fession, wherein he states that a certain patient, who had been the common manliness to insert a single word in your defence. afflicted with cancer in the tongue for fiveyears, and amputaherself Nay, more, the editor of our journal was not content to scrape tion recommended as the only chance of cure, had put by his treattogether every slander against you personally, but he had the under his care, and the disease entirely removed unblushing effrontery to publish to the members of the ment, and that subsequently she died of some internal complaint. Association that he had been paid by "two gentlemen" to Allow me, through your journal, to declare emphatically that circulate those slanders to every member of the profession. A such is a gross mis-statement ; that Mrs. Jarvis, who was my grosser violation of the privileges and independence of the mother-in-law, went back to the north in a worse state than press was never perpetrated. I promise you, at the forthcoming she came; so much so, that her friends had the greatest fear meeting at Manchester, that, if no other member of the Associa- of her arriving there; that the cancer increased so fearfully tion should forestal me in my purpose, I will demand from that it was with the utmost difficulty the least nourishment Dr. Cormack the names of those two persons. The answer could be administered to her; and that, finally, she died through 3nay perhaps throw some light upon the plot that was the cancer having eaten its way to one of the superior veins, formed against you. Should Dr. Cormack "make no sign," and caused her to bleed to death. I have friends high in the the inference will be irresistible. If such things be permitted, medical profession who can vouch for the truth of the foregoing what security have we for the honest fulfilment of his duties statement; and as to her being able to eat, I declare most as editor ? What is to prevent him from being paid to pro- solemnly that the only nourishment she could take was a raw up in tea, and that with the greatest difficulty and mulgate opinions directly at variance with our interests ?-to egg beaten the shelving, for instance, of the Reform Bill of the Associa- pain. I enclose the portion of the pamphlet, And am, Sir, yours obediently, tion ; for making the journal subservient to the private J. B. HANNAFORD. interests of a clique; or to the support of quacks and quackery? At the proper time I shall demand an answer to these inquiries. Trovalga Slate Company, Baltic Wharf, Commercial Road, Lambeth, April 20th, 1854. If the journal of the Association is to be prostituted to personal and party objects, the sooner we cease to have a journal The following is the case above alluded to :-" Mrs. J., aged the better. sixty, from the north of England, has had cancer of the tongue Sir, you have professed in a late number of THE LANCET, for five years, and amputation recommended as the only chance your willingness to submit the Free Hospital matter to the of cure. The cancer is situated on the right edge of the tongue, Manchester Medico-Ethical Association. Do you abide by a little behind its middle. Complains of severe and constant that resolution? If so, I request to know whether your pain, speaking causes much suffering, and is difficult and indischallenge has been accepted. The tribunal is unexception- tinct, has no power of mastication, and is obliged to subsist able ; and if you have shrunk from the ordeal which you entirely upon liquids. On the 3rd A pril, having expressed my yourself haveproposed, I promise you that, from the mo- unfavonrable opinion, I commenced treatment by applying my ment I hear that you falter in meeting the charges against remedy for five minutes only at a time. (I general apply it you before that highly respectable body, I cease either to from eight to twelve hours.) On the 21st June, the disease take an interest in your welfare, or to believeyou innocent was removed ; early in July she returned home free from pain, of the accusations brought against you. Equally, on the con- except when eating, which, however, she was able to do, and trary, if your object to an inquiry before unpre- her general health much improved. In the end of August, I an intimation of her death, from some inward comjudiced and. disinterested judges, I cannot understand upon received what principle their conduct is to be defended. It could only plaint."
you.
right-thinking
opponents