CLASS. II. 1. 4. 19. OF SENSATION. 



is by mixing one grain with a drachm of lapis calaminaris, and 

 strewing on the cancer some of the powder every day, till the 

 whole is destroyed. 



Cancers on the face are said to arise from the periosteum, and 

 that, unless this be destroyed by the knife, or by caustics, the 

 cancer certainly recurs. After the cancer becomes an open 

 ulcer of some extent, a purulent fever supervenes, as from other 

 open ulcers, and gradually destroys the patient. See Class II. 

 1.6. 13. 



Two very interesting cases have been lately published by Dr. 

 Ewart, of Bath, in which carbonic acid gas, or fixed air, was 

 kept constantly in contact with the open cancerous ulcers of the 

 breast; which then healed like other common ulcers. This is 

 rather to be ascribed to the exclusion of oxygen, than to any 

 specific virtue in the carbonic acid. As in common ulcers the 

 matter does not induce hectic fever, till it has been exposed to 

 the air, arid then probably united with oxygen. 



The manner of applying the fixed air, is by including the can- 

 cer in one half, or hemisphere, of a large bladder; the edges are 

 made to adhere to the skin by adhesive plaster, or perhaps a 

 mixture of one part of honey with about twenty parts of car- 

 penter's glue might better suit some tender skins. The bladder 

 is then kept constantly filled with carbonic acid gas, by means 

 of a pipe in the neck of it; and the matter let out at a small aper- 

 ture beneath. 



M. M. Where extirpation is not advisable, as in most open 

 cancers of the breast, keep the ulcer carefully from the air, either 

 by applying carbonic acid gas, as above; or by covering it with 

 charcoal in powder, and a double oiled silk. The charcoal-pow- 

 der should be renewed once in two or three days, and at those 

 times it should be pushed oft* by fresh charcoal -powder on lint, 

 so as not for a moment to expose it to the air. The charcoal 

 should be fresh taken from the fire, and powdered very fine as 

 soon as cool, and kept in a bottle to be as little exposed to the 

 air as possible. 



" The tumour should be suspended by a sash or soft cushion, so 

 as to keep it as easy as possible night and day, and should be kept 

 neither too. warm nor too cold, as both extremes are injurious. 



Internally, six grains of rhubarb every night, for many months, 

 and to drink nothing stronger than common weak small beer, 

 consisting of three strike of malt to the hogshead, or wine diluted 

 with thrice its quantity of water. 



If caustics cannot be applied so as to destroy the whole, even 

 before ulceration, I suspect that they aggravate the evil, and 

 sooner destroy the patient; as, I was well informed, occurred 



