548 
Analysis  of  a  Cure  for  Cancer. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Nov.,  1887. 
tained  a  residue  of  a  brown  color,  agreeing  with  the  one  gotten  in  the 
above  analysis.  This  residue  amounted  to  several  per  cent.,  and  on 
ignition  yielded  a  white  ash. 
Kemarks  by  the  Editor. — Years  ago  we  had  heard  of  this 
cancer  cure,  but  did  not  succeed  in  obtaining  the  powder,  until  Dr. 
Pursell  placed  a  small  quantity  in  our  hands.  The  quantitative  re- 
sults obtained  by  Mr.  Moerk's  analysis,  render  it  probable  that  the 
powder  is  made  by  mixing  two  parts  of  arsenious  acid  with  one  part 
of  wood  charcoal,  and  that  the  deviation  from  this  proportion  is  simply 
the  result  of  the  difference  in  the  specific  gravity  of  the  two  ingredi- 
ents favoring  a  partial  separation  of  the  heavy  arsenic.  This  propor- 
tion gives  arsenic  far  in  excess  of  that  contained  in  the  arsenical  pow- 
ders of  Swediaur,  Cosme,  Dupuytren,  Pluckett  and  others.  The  letter 
of  Dr.  Pursell  from  which  we  quote  below,  gives  some  particulars 
which  are  of  general  interest. 
Bristol,  Pa.,  Oct.  8th,  1887. 
The  history  of  this  powder  is  interesting  inasmuch  as  it  has  un- 
doubtedly cured  many  cases  of  epitheliome  and  other  cancerous 
growths,  and  now  has  great  reputation  in  the  upper  part  of  New  Jer- 
sey and  eastern  Pennsylvania.  I  am  informed  that  considerable 
amounts  of  money  have  been  offered  for  the  secret  of  its  composition 
but  constantly  declined.  The  first  case  of  which  I  have  direct  knowl- 
edge of  its  use  was  in  a  man  over  sixty,  who  had  a  rapidly  growing 
epitheliome  on  the  lower  lip.  I  had  attended  the  funeral  of  his 
brother,  who  had  died  from  a  precisely  similar  ailment,  a  few  years' 
before,  and  had  but  little  doubt  the  result  of  this  would  be  the  same. 
It,  however,  was  effectually  and  permanently  cured  by  the  application  of 
this  powder,  the  man  dying  some  years  laterof  another  disease.  It  may 
be  interesting  to  know  that  he  was  a  great  smoker  of  a  short  clay  pipe. 
A  more  prominent  case  is  referred  to  and  illustrated  in  Prof.  Gross' 
Surgery,  sixth  edition,  second  volume,  page  138.  I  am  very  well 
acquainted  with  this  man,  and  his  disease  and  treatment.  Prof.  Gross 
states  he  diagnosed  the  ailment  epitheliome  ;  he  operated  upon  it  and 
it  returned  when  (that  is  before  he  published  the  sixth  edition),  he 
lost  sight  of  the  case.  Subsequently,  however,  this  man  returned  to 
Prof.  Gross,  who  again  removed  the  growth  by  the  knife,  and  this 
time  seared  the  surface  with  the  actual  cautery.  I  saw  the  patient  fre- 
quently and  the  healing  process  was  never  completely  established.  In 
