SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS

NEW YORK STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY

The New York State Medical Society held its annual session on May 9 to 12, inclusive, and the editor of CANCER and his associate went all the way to Niagara Falls in the vain hope that they might learn something which would really help them in the cure of cancer.

But, unfortunately, though an entire day was devoted to two of the sections conjointly with a symposium on cancer, by many supposed to be authorities on cancer, there was seemingly nothing presented which we did not know before, or which would practically aid in our search. Except the excellent demonstration with moving pictures, by Dr. George A. Wyeth of New York, on endothermy, which was very well attended and repeated several times to large audiences. But there was much time and effort expended on useless research and abundant useless demonstration of dead cancer tissue during an entire morning.

The able Dr. Burton Simpson, director of the Buffalo State Institute for the Study of Malignant Disease, was chairman, and spoke repeatedly and well, but no word was uttered by anyone in regard to the proper medical treatment of cancer, which has yielded such excellent results. But the editor of CANCER was allowed five minutes at the conclusion of the paper by Dr. Bernard F. Schreiner of Buffalo on "Treatment of Cancer," to very briefly present the subject of Medicinal Treatment, although he had been promised to be called on for a brief paper which he had really read before the State Society about six years previously, apparently without effect. At the close of a report of the celebrated Mohonk Cancer Conference in a recent issue of CANCER, I have remarked, "What fools we mortals be!"

Cancer of the Liver and Other Localities Treated Medically

By WILLIAM H. MCGREEVY, M.D., New York City

The cancer problem of the day is rapidly assuming a position of first magnitude relative to the health and longevity of this generation. The surgical extirpation and early diagnosis of cancer, coupled with Roentgen and Radium applications, seem not to have lessened the ravages and frequency of this dread scourge of humanity. That cancer is more progressively rampant than ever before can be easily proven by the fast accumulating array of vital statistics. The trinity of surgery, Roentgen-rays and Radium, seems to have fallen far short of medical expectations. The profession of medicine must explore other fields than those much heralded and press lauded panaceas. At present the medical fraternity appears to be in a blind alley as far as the cause and cure of cancer is concerned.

Cancer is a disease of the most civilized, and is not dreaded by barbaric or semi-savage races. In the hunter stage of human development, when the individual went into the woods or on the plains and obtained what meat or game he required for his subsistence, he was not troubled with such loathsome troubles as cancer. His fish came fresh from ocean, lake, or river, and was never stale. There were no embalmed beef problems during the hunter's pastoral or agricultural eras. It is only with our intensive industrial development that malignant disease has come to be such a dreaded visitor. The nations using the most meat, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, and tea have the highest percentage of malignant disease. The most primitive races are not afflicted in the same ratio as the more civilized. They are more en rapport with nature than we are. They live more in the open and are consequently better oxygenated and more normal in their physical exercise than we.

While we cannot go back to those healthful, though somewhat inconvenient states aforementioned, but must adapt ourselves to our environment and destiny in this industrial era, we must

nevertheless take advantage of every circumstance that will help us survive the ills surrounding our existence. Sir Arbuthnot Lane, in his investigation of the frequency of cancer among the semi-savage black people of Africa, found the per cent practically nil.

During the first fifteen years of my professional life, I usually turned my cancer cases over to the surgeons, who promptly operated on them, after which a small percentage had a short respite, and then a recurrence and the inevitable closing of the chapter. I came to dread discovering cancer among my clientele, and continued in that frame of mind until I obtained a more logical hypothesis of malignant cancer than that of being a local lesion. Since then I have had much more cheering results than before and am not as concerned as heretofore at meeting cases of malignancy. I have treated at least seventy-five cases in the past fifteen years, of varying grades of intensity. Some were hopeless and inoperable when first seen, according to hospital diagnosis. Case 1. There was a Mrs. J. B., aged 45 years, multipara, previously enjoying good health, was sent to the Presbyterian Hospital in 1921 suffering from a malignancy of the lower lobe of the liver, together with an involvement of the hepatic flexure of the colon. The case was dire in the extreme, and the patient was returned home without anything having been done for her. Her case was diagnosed as hopeless and inoperable. Thrown on my hands and not wishing the responsibility, I had her removed to Bellevue Hospital, where a thorough examination was made. Her case was again diagnosed as hopeless and inoperable cancer, and she was sent home to die, without even an exploratory incision. She was again back on my hands without any solution of her troubles. Without any great expectancy, I put her on suitable medication and instituted a proper dietetic regimen, that from the start bore fruit. The tumor beneath the right costal margin began to shrink, and at four months was scarcely palpable. She remained under my supervision for one year, when she was to all intents and purposes cured. I saw her at intervals for another year, during which period there was no further trouble. I hear from her still through other members of her family who inform me of her continued good health.

Case 2. An extremely bad case of sigmoid involvement, with a history of rectal hemorrhages extending over two years. Mrs. B. S., multipara, previous health good, came under my care in November, 1920. When first seen, there was marked cachexia and physical asthenia. There was a good sized tumor in the left inguinal region and she complained of stomach trouble and marked constipation. She was seen in consultation with Dr. H. B. Cogswell of West 79th Street, who agreed with the diagnosis. The X-ray findings bore out the diagnosis. Treatment was initiated to suit her case and condition, and in six months her tumor had disappeared, together with her constipation and indigestion. She was kept on treatment for six months more and when discharged was apparently as well as she ever was. I might state that Bellevue Hospital considered the case hopeless and inoperable.

Case 3. Miss R. P., age forty years, developed a suspicious growth near the left nipple three years ago. She was treated surgically at the time and the growth disappeared promptly, only to return two years later. This time the nipple looked unhealthy and discharged, while the growth, which had reappeared in a different location, was larger than before and had extended along the glands to the axilla. This case was diagnosed at the Post Graduate Hospital, and surgical extirpation of the breast recommended. She had, in connection with the breast condition, a thyroid growth, which had been there fourteen years. She undoubtedly suffered from hypo-function of the gland, which must have influenced her metabolism and rendered her a cancerous host. This lady has been under treatment for the past seven or eight months and is practically well at this writing. The growth on her thyroid was removed two months ago at St. Luke's Hospital. It was not malignant, but it certainly must have influenced vitally the action of the gland.

Case 4. The next I am tabulating was a Mrs. W. C., aged 44 years, multipara, developed a cancer of the cervix uteri which had extended to the uterine walls. When first seen she was bleeding considerably, with a history of hemorrhages extending back two years. With the initiation of treatment, her hemorrhages ceased after a month. The hardness of the womb underwent a

change and softened to normal, and, at this writing, there is still a lump about the size of a ten-cent piece on the site of an old cervical scar, which evidently was the original beginning of the cancer in this case. She is still under treatment and doing well. This woman also had a growth in the region of the hepatic flexure of the colon, which has also disappeared simultaneously with the cervical condition.

Case 5. The next case was that of Mr. J. M., aged 65 years, vesical carcinoma, operated on surgically and radiumized and fulgurated. The case was hopeless and could not be benefited by my method and he sank under his burdens three months afterwards.

Case 6. The next case was that of Mrs. C. B., aged 36 years, multipara, parts involved were the cervix and uterus. Patient lost considerable blood and was extremely cachectic and physically asthenic. She looked rather unfavorable when first observed, but given a chance and guided aright she developed splendid recuperative powers and spontaneously cured herself in seven months. She is at present entirely cured.

Case 7. Mrs. A. C., aged 34 years, came under my care one month ago. I found her suffering from cervical cancer with hemorrhage. She has stopped bleeding, and the womb is beginning to soften. It is yet too early to give a positive prognosis, although I feel sure it will go along successfully.

I have only tabulated a small number of what might be termed "control cases." I have treated a considerable number of uneventful cases that ran true to form, and have not the time at present to give a detailed account of the same. I have been curing cancer since I first received the light and inspiration from my old, venerated master, Dr. L. Duncan Bulkley, down at the Skin and Cancer Hospital, twenty years ago. I am eternally obligated to that venerable figure in American medical history for opening my eyes to the wonderful opportunities of serving our fellow creatures and rendering them a service along lines that are not yet clear to the rank and file of our profession.