lONIC SURGERY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 82, 8 April 1910, Page 7

lONIC SURGERY.

» CANCER CURE. BEING TRIED IN LONDON. •o leletral'h.— Preu A»M:fatlon.- Copyright. (Received April 8. 10 a.m.) LONDON, 7th April. For the first time in Europe, ionic surgery as practised by Dr. Mawey at tho Oncological Hospital, Chicago, it being tried at the Cancer Hospital, London. By the- ionic treatment, the cancer growth is elect lically pierced thrice with zinc needles, coated with mercury. Ihe growth is thus necrosed and surrounded by a sterilised zone. Dr. Qcorge Dettun Massey A-as born at Mas»ey, Kent County, Aiarylitad, iv , 1856, and educated at Gal:nu and by privato tutors at Tallahassee, in Florida. lie graduated at the medical deportment of tne University of I'luladciphia in 1876, in which year he established himself in practice. Since 1880 he has been engaged specially in clcctru-thcrapcutic piactice, and has advocated elecliotherapeutic* in gynecology ana treatment of cancer in various national medical gathering*, lie has been attending surgeon to the American Oncological Hospital since 1005. The author of several medical works, ht> has written many thort pa pert.. The ionic treatment derives its namo from the Greek "ions," travellers, it was denned by Dr. A. \V. Izard, in v paper read two month* si|o before the Medical Association in "Wellington, as "the- electrolytic dissociation of drugs by the galvanio current, the dissociated ions having the power of penetrating the tissues to a depth varying with strength of current, resistance of tisaues, and substance introduced." The statement that the experiment described ia the cable ntMsage was tried for the first limp in Europe is incorrect. It has been used for some time in canes of inoperable cancer, it having been found that the introduction of zinc-and-mercury pencils with « strong galvanic current lor about two hoar* caused the mass to necrose, but an anaesthetic is necessary in such cases. In milder cases the process is painless, and therefor* no anaesthetic is needed. The ionic treatment has beeni found of benefit in gout, rheumatic sclentit, neuralgia, ringworm, lupus, rodent ulcers, boils and carbuncles, strictures, neurasthenia, etc., appropriate chemical agents being selected according to the malady under treatment. These agent « differ greatly in their difftiMbilitv. For instance, strychnine or prunoic at id will kill in a few minutes, while other nubstanceH remain localierd at the* place of application. The treatment lmn .uready proved a valuable adjunct to ordinary method*, notably in tinea of "-tiff joint!," but it i» manifestly a protes* which would be dangerous in unskilled hands. There is nothing in the item that wat not known to the profession in ' New Zealand months ago.