ELECTRICAL TREATMENT OF CANCER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 14, 5 April 1900, Page 10

ELECTRICAL TREATMENT OF CANCER.

Dr. Massey, an Ohio physician, is treating cancer successfully by diffusing- salts of mercury through the affected tissue by eleotrio action. Says Electricity in a leading editorial, in which Dr. Massey a Method in described :— ' A method of destroying oanoer germs* by the aid of electricity has recently been discovered, which, it is claimed, almost invariably proves successful, provided the disease has not gone too far. In a paper read a short time ago before the Medical Association of Columbus, Ohio, by Dr. G. Betton Massey, this new method of treating cancer was fully explained. Tt, consists of inserting in the body of the person afflicted nasoent salts of mercury by electric diffusion. This is said to be a most convenient means of destroying tuberculous deposits in any part of the body, rxcept the brain, the lungs, and the abdomen. The details of the method of procedure are interesting as showing the important part played by electricity. 1 The patient lies on a large pad conneoted with the negative pole of a battery, and a tubular gold electrode filled with mercury is inserted into the cancerous growth. The action of the ourrent results in the formtion of an oxyculoride of mercury, whioh diffuses into the tissue in all directions at the rate of about an inch and a half an hour depend* ing on the voltage of the current. The diseased tissues are thus absolutely destroyed, whilst the healthy ones beyond are only slightly affected. 'In concluding,' saya the writer, ' the author states that out of 10 cases of carcinoma, or cancer, operated upon, he succeeded in curing nine by the use of electricity, as outlined above. 1