Miss X., 22, came to me April 19th, 1906, with the history that she had been operated on for cancer a short time previously. For twelve months before that she had been out of health, suffering from backache, headache, and "indigestion."

She was of rather small make; of dark, naturally florid cheeks, but now pale. She complained that she felt very weak, and that her legs would hardly move. The headaches were frontal and occipital. Tongue clean; appetite good; bowels always constipated; has to take pills to get them to act; periods scanty; sleep good. The feet were rather cold. Pulse 120.

I found a large vertical scar about two inches to the right side of the umbilicus traversing the site of a tumour which extended on each side of it, about the size of an orange. After the incision had been made, the tumour was found to be of a malignant nature and so involved that it could not be interfered with, and there was nothing to be done except to close the wound.

Since the operation she had been having treatment with X-rays, but the visit to the electrician had proved so exhausting that this was not persisted in.

The family history was good. The patient had had the usual ailments of childhood, and had been twice vaccinated, the last time three years before I saw her.

I was asked if I thought there was any chance of her recovery. I said there was a very decided chance, and took the case in hand. At first I ordered a single dose of Ornithogalum umbel. ø, and told the patient that she was not to take any other medicine for three weeks, and at the end of that time she was to come and see me.

May 10th. – Much better. Tumour smaller. Bowels have acted much better; for the past ten days she did not have to take any aperient, though she had been quite dependent on them before.

The improved action of the bowels after a single dose of a remedy given in this way is a very good sign that curative and eliminative action has been set up.

A second dose of the same remedy was now given.

May 31st. – Feeling better and much stronger. Appetite much better than it has ever been – has never enjoyed breakfast as she does now. Has gained one pound in weight in a week. Bowels fairly well. Tumour about the same.

Has had a bad cold for a week. Throat a little red. She keeps coming over terribly giddy. Has had pain all over the abdomen.

Repeat.

June 21st. – Has had an attack of influenza – with aching all over, terrible headache, and nasal catarrh. Has had sharp, sudden pains in the region of apex of heart. Pulse 120. Tumour smaller; pressure over it makes her feel sick. The dullness on percussion is now all to the outer side of the scar. Bowels act daily. Has pains in rectum after stool.

Rx Thuja 30, once in ten days.

July 14th. – Got over the influenza. No more heart pains. Pulse 96. Tumour smaller, and not very tender. Bowels act well; sometimes with much pain. Period is on, and rather late. Aching in limbs; bad on walking.

Rx Ornith. ø, one dose.

August 2nd. – Better. Lump smaller; no tenderness. Had rather bad headaches in forehead and eyes. Giddy after lying down. Bowels acting well.

Rx Carcinos. 100, once in ten days.

August 16th. – Better. No giddiness. Headache better.

Rx Ornith. ø, one dose; to be followed by Carcinos. 100, once in ten days.

September 27th. – Very much better. Has been at Margate, where the bowels became confined. They still remain so. No giddiness.

Rx Ornith. ø, once in fourteen days.

October 24th. – Has had a good deal of headache the last week in right eye and right side of head, then it passes to the other side. Comes on after rising. Is only giddy when the headache is on. Has had a cold for a week. Bowels rather constipated during the week. The tumour is very indistinct. Feels a little discomfort in it. Has gnawing pain in the loins. Quickly tires when walking; it causes an aching in the right iliac region.

Rx Thuja 30, once in ten days.

November 20th. – Better, but constipation is troublesome. No distinct tumour felt.

Rx Ornith. ø, one dose.

December 13th. – Still constipated. Not so tired as she was.

Rx Lyc. 100, once in ten days.

January 8th, 1907. – Has been over-fatigued, having had to nurse a sister who was ill. Much backache. Bowels confined. Hardly anything to be felt of the tumour, but there is a little tenderness on deep pressure.

Rx Variol. 100, once in ten days.

February 3rd. – Feeling very well except for a cold. Is a good deal stronger, and can walk better. On the night of February 1st felt as if something was pushing through the abdominal wall. On examining the scar I found a good deal of tenderness about it, and in the centre a lump about the size of a walnut.

Rx Thuja ø, gtt. ij, single dose.

February 26th. – Better on whole. Had burning and stabbing pains off and on; but none of the pushing-through sensation.

Rx Ornith. ø, once in ten days.

March 21st. – Very well. Had no pain. Lump smaller.

Rx Ornith. ø, once a week.

I was now asked a question of some importance. Before she was taken ill the patient had been engaged to be married. The illness and the operation and the disclosure which the operation had made, had, of course, to all appearance put an end to the question of marrying. But the steady recovery under treatment had revived old hopes, and I was asked if I thought it would be right or wise to consider the possibility once more. I decided this in the affirmative, and I was then asked if I thought it would be possible for them to fix a date, the following June being the time that would be most convenient. This I again decided in the affirmative, and in June the marriage took place. On the honeymoon trip the lady did a fifteen miles' walk on one occasion, which tired her a little, but it showed, at any rate, a pretty complete recovery of physical powers. She now resides in the Midlands, but I frequently hear of her, and she reports herself in person when she comes to town.

Discussion:

This case is one of very considerable importance. It shows what medicine can do when surgery has had to confess its impotence, in the face of disease. It strikingly confirms the late Dr Cooper's observations as to the power of the single dose and of the great power of Ornithogalum as a remedy in cases of cancer of the intestinal tract. For it was Ornithogalum that turned the scale at the critical moment.  This patient never really looked back after the first dose of Ornithogalum, and this in spite of a severe attack of influenza – that terrible marplot of so many promising cases of cancer-cure. All who have had many of these cases to treat must have experienced this. An organism which has reacted bravely under medicinal aid, and raised great hopes of cure in both doctor and patient, becomes badly poisoned by influenza. The vitality is lowered, the balance is broken. Cancer plus influenza is a double enemy which the already taxed organism can no longer successfully resist. In this case, happily, there was vitality enough to work on to meet both.

I am not prepared to suggest what may have been the origin of the malignant disease in this case, but it will be remembered that there was a period of ill-health dating from twelve months before the appearance of the tumour. This was carcinosis in the pre-tumour stage. I do not suggest that the carcinoma was in this instance another form of vaccinosis, but the vaccinal element was present. That was why, when there was evidence that the forward march was showing signs of arrest, I interpolated a course of Thuja. The Thuja antidoted the vaccinal element, and allowed the more deeply curative remedy to get to work again. On another occasion I gave Variolinum. The special indication for that was the intense backache, but the vaccinal element in the case was the general indication; and again Thuja effectively remedied it.