II. The extreme hardness and general insensibility of the tumor.
III. The period of life; the cancerous disease being most apt to occur at the cessation of the menses.
IV. The gradual development of he tumor in such females; or its more sudden appearance in those who are younger.
V. The severity, lancinating, stabbing and paroxysmal character of he pains.
VI. the extension of the disease into the adjacent tissues, and consequent adhesion of the tumor to he surrounding parts.
THE ULCERATED FORM OF CANCER OF HE UTERUS.
In this second or ulcerated state, scirrhus of the uterus is much more easily reconcile;e. the occlusion itself, in connection with the surrounding undertone, and the peculiarly fetid nature of the discharge, very strongly mark the nature of the case. While as the disease advance, s the countenance assumes a no less peculiar straw colored complexion, which when once seen can almost always be relied upon as an infallible indication of the presence of cancerous affection. “As soon s the cancer has broken out, the pains, which until recently had been transitory, become more permanent, with acute lancinating pains like needles or knives thrust through the apart; the loss of blood becomes more frequent and sometimes habitual; a fetid, serious or blood leucorrhoea sets in which becomes fouler the more the ulceration progress, being sometimes mixed up with small flocks of putrid matter, of a brownish, color, and frequently having an excessively pungent (offensive)odor, or also with little coagula of blackout blood. If the menses have continued so far they often increase to a flooding; in women where they have stopped, they act as if they would reappear; others discharge constantly a profuse watery liquid without well;, or having an insipid sickening odor,- at the menstrual period this liquid become arose-colored. this serous discharge generally indicates that the ulceration has either commenced or is imminent. Pain now succeeds pain; the loins small of the back, hypogastrium, iliac region, even the nates down to the thighs become the seat of contusive tearing or distensive pains, sometimes mingled with smarting pains or acute stitches in. the neck of the uterus, and sometimes preventing sleep to such a degree that the patients dare not give themselves up to it. The mental functions remain unimpaired inspite of all these distress. And the cancerous diseases o not always prevent conception; although he products of such conceptions seldom survive birth or the full term and in most cases they perish at an earlier period. Neither is the cancerous disease communicable by contact; as is proved by the immunity of he husbands in such cases.
As the disease advance sin its course, the ulceration become more extensive;e the patient’s strength is wasted by the intense pain which is now almost constant with dreadful paroxysmal aggravations the loss of sleep and the repeat hemorrhages break down the system still further; hectic fever makes its appearance daily or even of tender, leaving the sufferer, after each accession k weaker than before; the appetite fails the distention become impaired, assimilation is impossible;a nd the life itself is finally exhausted by a chronic disease which originates in its constitutional foundations, and which while ultimating itself in a single organ, eventually involves every vital function within its fatal influences.
This disease may reach is termination in from five or six months to as many years; in its latter stages it may be attended with most obstinate constipation or excessive diarrhoea,, or both; the body may be reduced by gradual emaciation so as to resemble a skeleton; or the lower limbs may become infiltrated and the whole body bloated as with dropsy. In this latter case, especially in those advanced in life, colliquative Diarrhoea sets in with putrid and dark-colored stools and horrible pains, which reduce the patient to a state of collapse in. manner not unlike that of the Asiatic cholera.
The diagnosis of the more frequently seen open or ulcerated cancer is comparatively easy. Here, in addition to the constitutional symptoms and conditions already referred to danger the diagnosis of the non-ulcerated from of he disease, we have others, afforded by the touch which are at once more full and less liable to be mistaken then the indications obtained by the use of the speculum.
I. The ulcerated surface his hard and diversified by lobules, tubercles and ridges.
II. The peculiar pale straw-colored complexion is very characteristic of there is state of cancerous disease.
III. The odor of the discharge from ulcerated cancer, so exceedingly offensive and so persistent, on the finger after examination and even in the whole room, is alone sufficient to determine the nature of the disease in. the great majority of cases.
The medullary cancer, known also as haemotoid cancer, melanosis encephaloid disease, is the most common, next to the scirrhus; this may appear in. the womb, or in any pat of the system; runs a very rapid course; but is more amenable to treatment than the scirrhus. It is composed in great measure of a soft white, pulpy substance, in color and consistence very closely resembling there of the healthy brain, whence its name encephaloid. The fungus haematodes bears the same relation to the medullary cancer that the open ulceration does to the scirrhous, – it constitutes its secondary states when the medullary disease advances to assertion, red, ragged, bleeding growths sprout rapidly from the open surface, hence their designation as fungus haematodes, bleeding fungi. The medullary cancer is far less liable to form adhesions with the contiguous parts than is the scirrhous.
The colloid cancer is much more rare than the encephaloid, and consists of a congeries of gelatinous cysts, generally of the size of a hazle-nut, containing serous fluid, and having an investing envelope of delicate structure, which binds the cysts into a connected mass,. “This form may exhibit the appearance of small portions of greenish below transparent gum, or jelly, arranged in regular cells; hence it is sometimes denominated alveolar cancer. The most common seat of this form of cancer is in the abdominal cavity, although it has been known to occur elsewhere. It grows rapidly; often to a very great sizes rarely proceeds to ulceration; but eventually proves fatal by encroaching upon organs whose healthy action is essential to the prolongation of life.
The female breast is even more frequently than the womb, the seat of cancerous disease. In this situation it is much more readily and much earlier detected; and thus an opportunity is offered for administering the proper remedies at the very onset of the disease. The extreme, on hardness of a suspected tumor in the made, and the fact that it appears already adheres to the surrounding tissues, will greatly aid in deciding as to its malignant character. Some of these apparently scirrhous formations are developed in consequence of a blow upon the breast; many of these whether they might have finally resulted in open cancer or not, are readily cured and caused to disappear entirely by the exhibition of Conium.
Volumes have been written in description of the forms of cancer;; but we do not deem it necessary to give more minute accounts of these are the other less common varieties of this disease, since the symptoms themselves will inevitably lead the Homoeopathic physician to select the most suitable remedy in each case.
TREATMENT
Arsen.a. Lancinating pain through the part. Terrible dartings and lancinating, which burn like fire. The more like fire, the burning sensation is, the most strongly does it indicate Arsenicum. Acrid, corroding, burning discharges. The discharge may be thin or thick, brown or black. the discharge is often extremely offensive. The sufferings are usually worse after twelve at night. The patient is very easily fatigued.
Arum. The womb is discovered to be prolapsed and indurated. The pain is like that of a bruise, with shooting and drawing. The mind constantly dwells on suicide.
Belladonna. The woman finds it difficult to stand on account of a pressing down, as if the internal organs would pass out. Occasional pains which come on suddenly, and finally leave as suddenly. Flow of blood between the periods; the blood often feels hot. The blood often has a very bad smell and flow profusely. Violent pain in the back. The parts feel dry and hot internally.
Calcarea carb. Pale. leucophlegmatic temperament. the feet feel as if she had on cold damp stockings. vertigo on going up stairs. the menses flow too often and too abundantly. Sore, burning feeling in the internal genitals. A constant aching in. the vagina. Very sensitive to the least cold air, which goes right through her.
Carbo.ani. Violent pressing in. the loins, the small of the back and and the thighs, during the menses with unsuccessful desire to eructate, with chilliness and yawning. Great languor in the thighs before and during the menses. After the appearance of the menses she feels so tired she can hardly speak, accompanied by yawning and stretching. Weak, empty feeling at the pit of the stomach.
