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tance of the fact deserves to be particularly noticed, that in this case the ulcerative process has been wholly and completely superseded.

Such have been the facts of this case; facts which I must be permitted to say fully corroborate all the conclusions which I formerly drew regarding this disease. I must refer, therefore, those to whom these conclusions are unknown to my "Reports.' They are, in fact, very nearly the same appearances which took place during the long attendance, from May, 1805, to October, 1808, in conjunction with Mr. Abernethy, on the case which he put into my hands, due allowance being made for the different stages at which the cases were taken up. In that there was no fresh ulceration for three years and five months; and we may assert, therefore, confidently, that there too the ulcerative process was superseded.* This, I say, was seen by Mr. Abernethy so long ago as the years 1805 and 1806.

The event of this case takes away the last apology for the most severe, not to say shocking operation, of which the unhappy subjects of this disease have been, from time immemomorial, the objects. I therefore cannot but be surprised that that gentleman, having seen the ulcerative process superseded in that case, should say, "It is after an operation that, in my opinion, we are most particularly incited to regulate the constitution, lest the disease should be revived or renewed by its disturbance.' But this writer has informed us, That he has known a patient die soon after an operation for the removal of a cancerous tumor of no great magnitude, merely in consequence of the shock imparted to the constitution by the operation." Common sense, therefore, seems to dictate that the constitution should, if possible, be improved previous to any operation, and to enable the patient to sustain it.

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It is quite evident, that if the diseased part be removed, we can never feel perfectly convinced that the nature of the disease has not been mistaken. As it is properly observed by Mr. Abernethy, it is more from the history and progress of the complaint that its nature becomes evident, than from any thing that is obvious to the senses. Had this lady submitted to an operation several years ago, which I have no doubt would have been proposed by the surgeons, it is impossible that there could have been that sort of proof of the nature and progress of the disease which it has now afforded us.

* A few small ulcerations formed upon one part, at the expiration of eleven months, but they soon healed, and continued well to the end.See the "Reports on Cancer," p. 102.

I would ask on this subject one very plain question. If a medicine were proposed as a cure for a cancerous tumor, would any one think, as a previous step to a trial of its powers, of first cutting off the diseased part? would not the proposal of such a step be deemed even ridiculous? why then should not the power of regimen, which Mr. Abernethy has acknowledged to be more likely to affect such a disease than medicine, be treated with equal fairness?

I have only to add that the beneficial effects of this regimen in scirrhous tumors of the mammæ have been distinctly acknowledged by a surgeon of a public institution. In one of the medical journals, of the year 1809, was a communication on this subject, of which the following is an extract:

"In scirrhous tumors, where the patient's stamina is good, and particularly where the uterine secretion is regular, the vegetable diet and distilled water have proved very beneficial. The good effects of Dr. Lambe's treatment depend entirely on the natural stamina of the patient."

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I entirely coincide with this writer on this point. He has signed himself "A Dispensary Surgeon.' I am sorry to say that the author of this communication, which carries with it strong internal marks of correct observation, should have thought it proper to assume the mask of an anonymous signature, by which the weight which would have been attached to his evidence is considerably diminished.

CASE XIV.

Rheumatism.-A Case.

January 20, 1815.-I relate the circumstances of the following case rather to show the changes which are introduced into the habit, by the regimen, than as an example of relief from severe disease.

A lady, now near forty years old, was induced to adopt this regimen between four and five years ago. She had no disease upon her, but was not in a firm state of health. The respiration was weak; she was not able to take a full inspiration. The habit was relaxed and languid; the pulse feeble and sluggish; she was always chilly, and the skin was cold and damp. The feet were always cold.

I mention these circumstances, because they are what are

aled signs of a languid circulation, and are thought particu

ty to require sumulating food and fermented liquors to suppies, as they say, the system. Accordingly, this lady herself was under the idence of a strong prejudice, that an opposite system would not possibly agree with her.

And, indeed, for several months, the change was very irkShe felt as if she had nothing in her stomach, and had

$ strong craving for animal food. But except uneasy sensadon, the change was attended with no bad consequence, nor sericus mischief of any sort. Gradually, also, the uneasiness subsided, and ultimately wore off entirely. The craving appetice for animal food was also wholly subdued.

And the same amendment of the general health was found to take place in this, as has been experienced in other cases. And in was found here that under the vegetable regimen the baba became, instead of cold and chilly, to be hot and feverish This cannot certainly be supposed to be the direct effect of the vegetable diet, but must have arisen from the state of the system at the time at which it was adopted. The respiration has become strengthened; and all the signs of languid circulation, particularly the cold feet, and the coldness and dampness of the skin, were removed. She sleeps much more soundly than formerly; and upon the whole, the general health is better, and the habit much strengthened.

She is much less susceptible of injury from cold than formerly. She was so tender that she dreaded a breath of cold sir blowing upon her. Such accidents she can now bear withous injury or apprehension.

She was able in the third year of the use of this regimen to suckle an infant nearly twelve months. This is the fourth example of this kind which has occurred to myself. Twice it has happened in the family of Mr. Newton, and once in a patient of mine in an humble walk of life. I have heard, too, of some other instances of it.

This lady had no fixed disease upon her; but she had frequent indispositions. For five or six years she had been troubled with severe rheumatic pains of the face, regularly attacking her in the months of March and April, and lasting six weeks or two months. These attacks have wholly ceased. But during the second year, she was troubled with an inflammation of the eyelids, from which there was an abundant thin and acrid defluxion, which continued some months. This disease appeared to be a species of substitute for the rheumatic pain.

CASE XV.

Polypus of the Nose, with Numbness of the Limbs, Giddiness, and Oppression of the Head.

January 20, 1815.-I have obtained the particulars of the following case from correspondence, the result of which appears very satisfactory.

A lady, now near forty years of age, married, and a mother, had been troubled from a very early period of her life with a stoppage of the left nostril, which was found, when she was eleven or twelve years old, to proceed from a polypus. The nostril of that side was habitually enlarged. There was an habitual discharge from the part, which had occasionally been violent; but it was unattended with pain, or other inconvenience, except that she was obliged commonly to breathe with the mouth open.

This lady was of a full habit of body, high colored, and with the strength good, being able to walk several miles, but was liable to numbness of the limbs, the legs and arms frequently becoming torpid, or what is usually called falling asleep. The head felt often oppressed, and she was affected with dizziness, and singing of the ears when she stooped. At times she was extremely irritable and nervous. She had been informed that such diseases of the nose occasionally become cancerous, on which account she was very willing to adopt any plan that should be thought right to avert such a calamity.

What reason there was for such an apprehension I will not venture to pronounce. But the uncomfortable feelings which this lady described, justified an attempt to remove them, and I therefore advised her to adopt the regimen. This she complied with in the very beginning of the year 1812. I heard of the consequence of the change very lately, of which she speaks in terms of the greatest satisfaction. Her account is in the following terms: "On the receipt of your answer to my letter, I have strictly confined myself to the mode of diet you prescribed, and I have taken no medicine whatever. I can now with the greatest truth assure you, that in every way my health is materially improved; my spirits are more equal; the confused feel I formerly experienced in my head is very much better; the distressing drowsiness which frequently overpowered me is quite gone, and the equally disagreeable numbness and torpor in my limbs is quite gone also. I used likewise frequently

to have the nightmare, which I do not recollect to have felt for two years past. I have also the pleasure to tell you that my nose is more comfortable than formerly; for though I never had any pain in it, there was often a very distressing sense of fullness and heat, which I do not feel now, and the discharge is less. I also breathe much more freely through my nose than I used to do."

DEAR SIR,

CASE XVI.

Miscellaneous.

FROM A CORRESPONDENT.

I am happy to be able, in compliance with your request, to state some of the particulars relative to my observations and experiments about vegetable diet: they are, in my opinion, very insignificant and useless; but if you think they can be of any service to you for your ingenious inquiry, you are at liberty to use them in any way you think best. As you wish me to represent my own case, I shall begin with the following particulars.

I first adopted the vegetable diet about the year 1801, when a boy, partly from a disgust I felt toward animal food—a circumstance I cannot exactly account for—and partly from hearing people talk of the health and longevity of many persons who had fed entirely on vegetable substances; and of the simplicity of manners of the oriental herbivori. I also read some books which came in my way by chance about the cruelty practiced toward animals, with a view to improve the flesh considered as an article of diet; and I heard people discussing these subjects at dinner.* All these causes combined to inspire my infantine fancy with such a disgust to the flesh of animals, that for upward of five years I lived totally on the vege

• I have recently become acquainted with many persons at Cambridge and elsewhere, who, at some early period of their life, abstained from animal food from this consideration of the cruelty necessary to catch and destroy it. Most of these persons have since been distinguished for their intellectual and benevolent character. I have heard them say that they enjoyed as good health and strength during the time they fed on vegetables as at any other in their lives, and I am sorry I cannot at this moment find access to them to obtain leave to give their names, and a more particular account of their cases.

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