New Treatment for Cancer.

Hastings Standard, Issue 109, 1 September 1896, Page 4

New Treatment for Cancer.

ENCOURAGING EXPERIMENTS BY DR. TREMEARNE.

[Ballarat Courier.]

i One of the reproaches against the medical profession throughout the world is their inability to find some cure for that dreadful complaint—cancer. It- seems almost as if, at last, their close researches are to be crowned with success, and relief, if not cure, : afforded to thousand of sufferers. The new treatment is a German one, and was introduced into the colony recently by Dr. Tremearne, of Creswick. The treatment —which is known as methylene blue—came to Dr. Tremearne's knowledge through his receiving a supply of powder from one of the several European correspondents with whom he is constantly in communication on the latest medical researches. The doctor does not claim to be the inventor of the treatment in any sense. He lost no time in using the powders after he had received them. Dr. Tremearne has only been experimenting for four weeks, during which time he has had six cancer patients in his private hospital, and one thing that has struck him forcibly so far is the wonderful rapidity with which the pain ceases in all cases. The doctor's first patient was an old man, the right side of whose cheek was in a terrible state, for four days the doctor injected the methylene blue, when the appearance of the man's cheek showed a remarkable improvement. The cancerous growth was reduced in size and showed a decided shrinkage, while the patient suffered no pain whatever. He has continued to use the prescription, and has written to the doctor informing him that he is getting along "splendidly." Another patient, a lady, took to her bed at the hospital, and it was never thought that she would leave it alive. Her cancer was an internal one, and she was suffering excruciating pain. After three days' treatment she was able to leave her bed, and her condition has greatly improved. The other patients are suffering from cancer in the face and cancer in the tongue, ami each has benefited considerably, although it is too early at this stage to say to what extent they have really improved. A young resident of the Ballarat district is under treatment for what is known as the " keloid tumour"—a huge growth on the back of the neck. He has experienced great relief through the injections, and the tumor is greatly reduced in size. The patients have not been under Dr. Tremearne's care sufficiently long enough for him to arrive at a decision as to the efficacy of the treatment, but he is highly gratified with the progress so far made by them. In many European cities methylene blue has been used with splendid results. Methylene blue is non-poisonous, but, according to the doctor's investigations, it seems to cause great irritation to the patient. The action of the stuff upon the system seems to kill all the parasities, which come away immediately, and the disease seems to percolate from the system through the kidneys. Methylene blue, according to the latest medical reports, is a coloring matter of the diphenylamine series i with the systematic name of tetramethylthionine chloride, sulphur also entering into its composition. The dye occurs in deep indigo - colored scaly crystals, with a bronze lustre and dark-green fracture. It is soluble in water to the extent of about 3 per cent., the solubility being increased by the addition of alcohol. The color of its solution is deep blue. Methylene blue is administered either subcutaneously in doses of one-third to one grain in concentrated aqueous solution, or internally in gelatine capsules in doses of Hto 8 grains. ' As an anodyne methylene blue has been successfully employed in about 25 cases of neuralgic and rheumatic affections by Ehrlich, and also by Combomele and by Francois with great benefit in simple neuralgia and acute rheumatism. The anodyne action showed itself, without exception, a few hours after administration, and progressed to a partial or complete remission of pain. ! The system does not appear to accus- : torn itself to the use of the remedy and thus render it ineffective, whilst txo injurious effect is experienced on. the pulse, appetite, and digestion. In cancerous affections methylene blue has been used with advantage by various Continental authors. Rudish and Eidhorn found the anasarea, and pains disappear in carcinoma uteri, j and the tumor decrease in size under | administration of three grains of ! methylene blue in capsules daily for three weeks. Ambrosia found the locality of the cancerous substance reduced and defined in carcinoma inanimate by injections of a 0 5 per cent solution, so that the tumors either entirely disappeared or could bp, extirpated; the hemorrhage and piercing pains also disappeared. Barrier employed a 10 per cent methylene blue solution in alcoholic glycerine in five cases of epithelioma with great success. The cancerous tissues were first slightly cauterised with 0-2 per cent chromic acid solution, and then painted daily with the methylene blue solution. The cure was complete and rapid, leaving only a slight scar. Dr Lindner removed a malign tumor on the left cheek by means of subcutaneous injections of methylene blue.