or chloride. Its affinity for albumen, the chief constituent of the cell-wall, renders it almost infallible, so far as the utter destruction of the morbid material is concerned. The potassa fusa, recommended by Dr. B. L. Hill and others, is equally so; but here the analogy ends. The great peril from cancer is due to septicemia, incident to the death and decomposition of the cancerous material. This, I early learned, was obviated by the action of the zinc. I thus had the fortune, good or ill, according as we regard it from the humanitarian standing-point, or that of envy, to discover that sulphate of zinc was antiseptic, and was not only useful to arrest the ill consequences of the disintegration of cancer texture, but of other parts of the body. It would arrest gangrene, and so obviate that peculiar condition sometimes denominated "hospitalism." It was in 1846 that I first noted this use of the zinc sulphate. I speedily made the fact public; and during the first months of the recent civil war, surgeons instructed at the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, or otherwise conversant with our eclectic literature, employed zinc in the gangrene wards of the hospitals, with signal results. The old-school surgeons were astonished, and proposed at first to claim the discovery as their own, after their usual practice of plagiarism. But it could not be done. The books were at hand to indicate the source of the discovery. The other course was then adopted. The use of the zinc was forbidden; and so, although the soldiers suffered by the increase of mortality, an object was accomplished which the surgeons considered of greater importance. Antiseptic treatment was prohibited, and hated rivals prevented from obtaining the credit which they deserved. Since that time, Prof. Lister, of England, has adopted antiseptic surgery, employing principally the spray of carbolic acid. He has diminished by it the mortality of the foulest hospitals of Great Britain, and others, copying from him, have achieved like results in the large pestiferous hospitals of continental Europe. He is "regular," and therefore there is no hesitation at adopting his innovation. But if he had been an American eclectic, his professional brethren would have chosen to let the gangrene patients rot on rather than suffer the carbolic acid spray to be employed. Nevertheless, one thing is true. One of those hated and calumniated eclectics was actually the first who discovered and employed successfully the antiseptic treatment of wounds and gangrenous affections. The difference was in the agent used, not in the principle. Indeed, zinc is preferable for the purpose to carbolic acid spray. HOW TO PREVENT CANCER. A knowledge of the pathology of cancer, it may well be expected, will result in the discovery of means to prevent its first development. Whether we know enough yet for that purpose is more than questionable. Till we know how cancer originates, we can hardly hope to prevent it from originating. This much has been observed, that cancer and tuberculosis seem to be incompatible. Persons are reported to have recovered from scirrhus almost, while consumption was actively developing; and Mr. Paget is confident that he has seen at least one instance in which active tuberculous disease of the lungs was arrested immediately before the appearance of a scirrhous tumor on the breast." Dr. Bennett makes the following suggestions: * "As excessive cell development must be materially modified by diminishing the fatty elements which originally furnish elementary granules and nuclei, the circumstances which diminish obesity, and a tendency to the formation of fat would seem a priori, to be opposed in the cancerous tendency. Fat, however is essential to a healthy condition in the economy; and there will always be a difficulty in so regulating ingesta, as while, on the one hand, we prevent such an excess of adipose formation as not to favor excessive cellgrowth, on the other, we may sufficiently contribute to the nutrition of the tissues. In most cases of cancerous and cancroid growths, however, it seems to me a prudent step to diminish all those dietetic substances easily converted into fat, including not only oily matters themselves, but starch and sugar. "But there is another source of fat in the economy, originating in the secondary digestion of the tissues, which we may operate upon with greater chances of success. By preventing accumulation from this source, we not only invigorate the system and keep the functions in order, but cut off one of the supplies of that material which keeps up excessive growth. This we can do by taking care that the excretory organs properly perform their functions, and that the matter excreted bears a full, or even increased proportion to the ingesta. By paying attention to the function of the lungs, skin, liver and kidneys, and by promoting their action, we shall accomplish what is most necessary to obviate a cancerous tendency, and the disposition of the disease to return. It may be stated that this is only saying, in other words, attend to the general health.' But health is too often judged of by the appetite, amount of ingesta, and robustness of an individual, rather than by a due amount of the excretions, and a spare but active constitution. If a If a tendency to fat be antidote to tubercle, as I believe it is, spareness may possibly be considered opposed to cancer. In the one case we should do all we can to bring nutrition up to and above the average; in the other, down to and below it." CONCLUSION. The credit of first evolving the present methods of treating cancer successfully, and of elucidating its cell-pathology, every candid and intelligent man will perceive, belongs exclusively to the American eclectic school of medicine. In whatever the writer may have. effected in these matters, he cheerfully abides the verdict of his professional brethren those who love truth and justice, and cherish the honor of eclectic medicine in their heart of hearts. He was led by * See J. Hughes Bennett; On Cancerous and Cancroid Growths, 1849, p. 250. providential circumstances to undertake the study in the earlier stages of his career. He speedily ascertained the fact that cancerous tissue has an essential vitality of its own; and, therefore, like any parasite, or like embryo or foetus, has an inherent power to nourish itself from the nutritive elements of the body which come within its range of operation. He soon learned that the cell-theory of Schwann. and his ancestors accounted for the peculiar facts and circumstances of this extraordinary structure. Upon these ideas he elaborated a theory of cell-pathology, which has since been adopted, whether by plagiarism or otherwise, by the leading medical writers of Europe and America. He speedily became able to prognosticate whether any of these malignant growths were or were not within the reach of surgical skill. He was fortunate in the devising of a method of treatment that would generally prove successful, where the patient had not already become so impaired in general health, or poisoned by the ulcerous fluid, as to be incurable. He promptly communicated this knowledge to his students and professional brethren. Having done this much he cheerfully and confidently rests his case. Whatever of honor or credit may be awarded him, a liberal part will be sure to fall to the eclectic school of reformed medical practice, of which he is an humble member. The existence of that school depends on its contributions to medicine, surgery and hygiene of the sick-room; and to labor successfully for such objects is glory enough for any man deserving the name. TRANSACTIONS OF THE ECLECTIC MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. OFFICERS AND MEMBERS-1877. OFFICERS. President, J. M. Comins, M. D.; Vice-President, S. E. Mortimore, M. D.; Secretary, Thomas B. Newby, M. D.; Treasurer, O. S. Gregory, M. D. Board of Censors. Dr. Robert S. Newton, Dr. W. H. Weaber, Dr. G. A. Gaillard, Dr. P. W. Allen, Dr. S. E. Mortimore. Advisory Committee. - Dr. E. B. Foote, Dr. Mark Nivison, Dr. William Archer. Permanent Committee. Dr. P. W. Allen, Dr. R. S. Newton, Dr. Henry Newpher, Dr. R. E. Kunzé. Name. LIST OF MEMBERS. ... Residence. Dr. J. M. Comins, president..... 345 Lexington avenue. 511 Third avenue. 314 West Twenty-eighth street. 251 East Tenth street. 223 East Twenty-sixth street. Dr. Mrs. Gaillard.. . Dr. H. A. Newpher. 120 Lexington avenue. 565 Orange street, Newark, N. J. 58 Dey street. 108 Spring street. 108 Spring street. 213 East Thirty-first street. 368 Gold street, Brooklyn. 349 Cumberland street, Brooklyn. 137 West Forty-seventh street. Name. Dr. R. S. Newton, Jr..... Residence. 137 West Forty-seventh street. 362 Bleecker street. 345 East Fourth street. 121 West Eleventh street. 104th st. bet. 9th and 10th avs. 46 East Fourteenth street. 244 East 117th street. 314 West Twenty-eighth street. 223 East Twenty-sixth street. CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. CONSTITUTION. ARTICLE I. This society shall be known by the name of the Eclectic Medical Society of the City of New York. ART. II. The officers of this society shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Board of Censors, composed of five members, and an Advisory Committee, consisting of three members. These officers shall be elected annually in the month of November, by ballot, under the majority rule, excepting in the choice of the Advisory Committee. In the selection of members to compose this body the nominations shall be made by the chair, and submitted singly to the vote of the society for confirmation or rejection, and a majority of two-thirds of the members present shall be necessary to confirm each nomination. The President, VicePresident, Secretary, Treasurer and the Chairman of the Board of Censors, shall constitute the Executive Committee, and attend to all business of the society not delegated to special committees. ART. III. The regular meetings of the society shall be held on the third Tuesday of each month, at such place as custom may have established. No meeting shall be held during the months of June, July and August. The annual meeting for the election of officers |