Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/35

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

analysis, but by their effects. When Demosthenes had thundered forth a Philippic, the Athenians did not say, ““ What a fine oration !” but, “ Let us march against Philip.”

The notes of John Hunter’s lectures which have come down to us, do not contain many specimens of his peculiar manner. The account of the treat- ment of cancer, however, isan example of his strong unsparing good sense, conveyed with extreme fa- miliarity of style.

‘“ No cure has yet been found; for what I call a cure is an alteration of the disposition and the effects of that disposition, and not the destruction of the cancerous parts, which extirpation, however, will often cure as well as we could do by changing the disposition and action. Arsenic seems to have some power of this kind; and its effects might be in- creased by being used internally and externally ; but its use is very dangerous, and, I am afraid, insufficient for the disease. This is a remedy which enters into the empirical nostrums, which are in vogue for curing cancer; and among which, Plunkett’s holds the highest rank. But this is no new discovery ; for Sennertus, who lived the Lord knows how long ago, mentions a Rodriguez and Flusius who obtained considerable fame and fortune by such acomposition. I was desired to meet Mr. Plunkett to decide on the propriety of using his medicine in a particular case. I have no objection to meet any body. It wasthe young one. The old one is dead, and might have died himself of a cancer for aught I know. I asked him what he intended