Of the causes of cancers we can say little. In the stomach, the dram drinker has been supposed more liable to the disease; and in general what induces a depraved state of the fluids, as irregularity in diet, ebriety, a sedentary life, and confined air, predispose to it. Celibacy, as we have observed, seems to be a predisposing cause; and we have suspected that when marriage has taken place at a late period, the disposition to cancer has been accelerated.

The progress of cancer is various; in some cases rapid, in others slow. In almost every stage nature seems to attempt relief, and granulations occasionally spring up, giving hopes of a cure, which arc soon disappointed. The discharge is not highly putrid, but has a peculiar hepatic smell, sufficiently well known. The taste is said not to be acrimonious, but insipid and

' mawkish.'

A cure is rarely made but with the knife or caustic; when these methods of relief are not used, the treatment is only palliative. If the tumour firmly adheres to the subjacent part, it can neither be extirpated nor wasted away by a caustic: if it is moveable, it may generally be taken away, cautiously avoiding such blood is as would endanger life by being wounded. In general, the larger are more dangerous than the less, the painful than the indolent, and the ulcerated than the occult. When a breast is once scirrhous, it seldom continues long in a state that threatens a cancer without affecting the axillary glands, occasionally the other breast, or the uterus. When a cancer in any part is attended with a hardness of the adjacent glands, success hath rarely followed bo attempt to cure. In habits not otherwise disordered, an occult cancer should not be exasperated by emollients, stimulating application, or intemperance, for then it may remain a long time without inconvenience: though at the cessation of the menses in women they will be exasperated. If then it can be conveniently done, it may be most proper to extirpate early.

The remedies employed in this disease have been various; and, though we cannot always boast of success, we can often arrest the progress of the complaint, and, without curing, can, for a series of years, render it harmless. Our former explanations will at least connect the remedies, and perhaps render their application more clear.

If, in a cachectic habit, a tumour is formed on any of the external parts mentioned, indolent, discoloured, and occasionally painful, we have reason to suspect the approach of cancer. If in the breast of women about the cessation of the menstrual discharge, should there be even no pain, danger is to be apprehended. This is perhaps the period for topical, refrigerant applications, for topical discharges, and for internal alterative medicines. Leeches should be repeatedly applied, the parts bathed with saturnine lotions, the diet limited to the mildest nutriment, and wine avoided. In short, at this period, every thing that can prevent or lessen inflammation should be employed, while the activity of the smaller vessels may be gently stimulated to prevent or relieve congestion. We combine the stimulant and relaxant power very successfully in the form of Plum-mer's pill, to which a slight opiate may be added, taking care that no constipation of the bowels should increase the heat. After a short period, the external applications may be more stimulating. The aqua ammoniac acetatae may supersede Goulard's lotion; a small proportion of mercurial ointment with camphor may be gently rubbed in, around rather than upon the tumour, or a mercurial plaster applied. At the same period, issues have been sometimes formed in distant parts, but we have had little experience of their utility; yet the measure certainly merits a trial.

Internal cancers, however, give no certain index of their existence till they are advanced much further. Yet, if in a cachectic state, there are irregular and dark discharges of blood from the vagina, shooting pains in the lower part of the belly, a sense of weight on turn-ing in bed sensibly felt to fall on the lower side; above all, if, on examination, the uterus feels heavy, the osti-neas hard, and with irregular projections; there can be little doubt of the cause. When the discharge becomes more decidedly of a cancerous nature, every doubt must be removed. Cancer in the vagina, an uncommon case, but of which we have seen an instance, can be easily felt: in the rectum also the distinction is not difficult. In the stomach it is very doubtful, and is seldom ascertained till after death. Yet, whenever cancer is suspected in the internal parts, if no discharge has yet taken place, the same plan of internal remedies may be followed.

A question will arise, whether this (we now the state of external cancers in the early period ) is the proper time for the celebrated deobsvruents. hemlock and arsenic? Were our own experience to we should say, that, in this state, we have found neither useful. Of the former we would speak sitation. It seems to have been first given in a random trial, and continued from the confident promises of those who had apparently used it with success. Of the integrity of Van Swieten, Storck, and Colin, we would not insinuate the slightest suspicion; yet we know that those who are willing to believe in the powers of a me-dicine, will always find some facts apparently to support them. We dare not say that hemlock is of no use; but if called on for facts to justify any assertion in its favour, we should find them with difficulty. After these observations we need not return to this remedy, but shall only add, that the doses, gradually increased, of the extract, soon become a cold inert mass on the stomach. The seeds are more active in a smaller bulk; but, in whatever form it is given, it should be increased till it exerts some evident power on the general system, either by affecting the head or stomach with giddiness or nausea.

We may, indeed, be asked, by what links we connect the effects of the hemlock with the accounts we have given of the disease? We see no connection; but may observe, in general, that all the poisonous plants excite a commotion in the system, with a design probably of counteracting their deleterious effects. When this commotion is general and considerable, the obstructions of a diseased part may experience some salutary change. This is the case with the aconite, the foxglove, the hemlock, and the whole tribe; and the suspicion receives no inconsiderable support from this circumstance, that these medicines are only serviceable when raised to such a dose as to produce violent effects. Few practitioners will, probably, doubt that hemlock has done infinitely more mischief in supposed cancers, than it has done good in real ones.