Cancer: Its Cause and Treatment, Volume 1 (of 2)

by Lucius Duncan Bulkley

For this large number of hopeless victims of this dire disease, at least, proper dietary and medical treatment should be most carefully studied and patiently applied, with the hope and expectation that the same, if correctly employed, would more or less hinder or check its progress or prevent a recurrence after operation. But experience shows that such measures, if taken promptly and thoroughly, can also prevent the development of early threatening lesions into those of malignant character, suggesting surgical removal, and these should never be neglected when there is the slightest suspicion of cancer. For it must be acknowledged that the surgery of cancer is only an attempt at the physical removal of a something, which medical science and art should not have allowed to develop out of normal tissue. And in the matter of the general prophylaxis of cancer it is certainly worth while to consider and act strongly upon the facts which have been presented, especially in those individuals who have any hereditary suspicions, or who exhibit the habit of body or life which could lead to the development of cancer.

The medical care of cancer, as of all diseases, naturally includes both prophylaxis and the treatment of a morbid condition which has already developed; the former of these is always considered to be of the highest importance.

Prophylaxis of Cancer. From what has preceded in this and other lectures it can readily be understood that the prevention of cancer lies largely along dietary and hygienic lines, including such medical attention as shall secure healthy action of the secreting and excreting organs. If the figures and facts heretofore given are correct, if cancer has surely been observed to increase under certain conditions of life, if it is found to be absent or relatively rare under certain other conditions of living, if cancer has been known to disappear spontaneously in certain individuals, especially when they have changed their mode of living, it must then follow that when the exactly correct habit and state of life are continually assumed the disease will not occur.

In other words, when the blood stream nourishing the tissues is ideally correct, the individual cells of the body perform their functions normally, and as each cell is worn out it is removed by a healthy catabolism and renewed by a normal anabolism, and homologous cells then replace those which have ceased to be able to perform their function. On the other hand, when there is perverted metabolism we have various forms of deranged action, to which we give the names of various diseases, one of which is cancer: here in place of homologous cells maintaining the tissues in a normal condition, we have a malignant metamorphosis into heterologous cells, which take on a disorderly or rampant action, and refuse to assimilate themselves to others, so as to form healthy tissue; we have then a mass of low vitality, tending to easily break down or ulcerate, and to extend their malignant action to adjoining tissues, under the continued influence of a contaminated blood current. When once ulceration has occurred, the ordinary parasitic micro-organisms, which are practically omnipresent, find an acceptable nidus, and aid in the destructive work, and also in the systemic poisoning of the tissues.

The aim, then to be sought in the prophylaxis of cancer is to secure the most perfect blood stream possible, which is accomplished by simple living, perfect mastication, and the avoidance of excesses, especially along the lines of protein, tea and coffee, alcohol, etc., with the maintenance of healthy habits of life, especially in regard to bowel action. As already intimated, we do not know just why in some persons and at a certain time a disturbance of metabolism results in perverted cell growth, but there is, of course, a reason, and the physician’s duty is so to regulate the patient’s whole life that the metabolism is kept in the state of perfect health. All this seems very simple and trite, but really it is a task which is most important and often most difficult to accomplish, and requires very careful study and infinite patience. Dr. Kellogg, of Battle Creek, says that of the many thousands who have passed under his care he has not known cancer to develop in any one who had been faithful to the principles which he inculcates, and I may say the same of the many who have been under my care in private practice, often with notes extending over many years.

Time does not permit of going into detail here in regard to the special features of diet and hygiene, which I discussed with you fully two years ago, in my lectures, which were subsequently published: suffice it to say, as previously remarked, that the refinements of civilization add greatly to the temptation of over-eating, and wrong eating and drinking, as they do to numerous other temptations, and in many instances it requires the utmost amount of grit as well as patience, both in the patient and doctor, to secure the perfect result necessary.

It is understood, I trust, that I believe that for the proper treatment of cancer, and to prevent its occurrence and recurrence, it is absolutely necessary to maintain a perfect vegetarian diet, which includes even the exclusion of eggs and milk, with food; but the yolk of eggs may sometimes be taken with advantage, and also milk alone and separate, at a body temperature, one hour before eating, according to the plan which I have often demonstrated to you. As remarked in my last lecture, the vegetable kingdom contains proteid sufficient for the system, and the diet should be so arranged as to give the requisite quantity of calories, in proper proportion, of vegetable protein, carbohydrates, and fats: the latter is accomplished largely with butter, of which a quarter of a pound may be taken daily. Many writers on diet hold that the protein in casein acts differently from that contained in meat, and this is allowed in many vegetarian dietaries: it also contains phosphorus, which is an integral part of living cells, especially their nuclei. When nutrition seems to demand it, this can, perhaps, be added to the diet, mixed with cereals or in soups, and a small amount of certain kinds of cheese is also sometimes allowable. It is impossible to elaborate the details of diet fully in a lecture such as this, and I must refer you to the many excellent works on food and nutrition (Hutchinson, Sherman, Thompson, Buttner, Braithwaite), for further information.

The medical treatment of cancer patients is a matter which should receive most careful and constant attention; indeed, the patient in whom cancer is threatening or has developed should be under the watchful and unremitting guidance of a physician who grasps the importance of the matter and is prepared to guard the health, and to meet and correct functional disorders as they arise; for a careful study of patients with cancer for many years has constantly shown me gross errors in their life and in the action of various organs, and consequently disorders of metabolism which are of weight in connection with the disease.

The first point of importance to which I wish to call your attention is in regard to the action of the bowels. Some of you may remember that even that great surgeon, Sir Arbuthnot Lane, has recently emphasized the fact that one of the terminal results of intestinal stasis may be cancer. This may seem strange, but it would surprise you if you knew how very commonly there was imperfect intestinal excretion, or intestinal stasis, as it is now called, in these subjects; indeed, I might almost say that it is the rule, and that this assuredly plays a most important part in the auto-intoxication which leads up to cancer; in fact, I almost feel like saying that the toxins produced by the millions of micro-organisms generated through intestinal stasis and fecal putrefaction are the real, incidental cause of cancer. Under a perfect vegetarian diet there is less likelihood of trouble in this direction, but even then there is necessity of watching continually, that there may be at least, one, full, free movement of normal character, daily, after breakfast. In many cancer patients I have secured this by having the entire potato eaten, skin and all, whether boiled or baked; by this means also one gets the full value of the inner layer of skin, which contains the mineral salts so necessary to the economy, which are entirely lost when the potatoes are peeled before boiling; so that potatoes should always be cooked in their skins, even if the outer layer is stripped off afterwards.

But the regulation of the bowel action should not be left to the judgment and action of patients, with a spasmodic use of remedies, and with alternate constipation and purgation; the physician himself should carefully guide and direct the proper treatment frequently enough to secure perfect results. Of course each one may have their own ideas and methods, but I have long used with the best results the remedies which you have often heard me order in this clinic. Thus, at the beginning of treatment, and often on the same days of many succeeding weeks, I give ℞ Ext. Colocynth. Co., Mass Hydrarg aa gr. x Pulv. Ipecac gr. ij M. Div. in Capsules No. IV. Sig. Take two at night and two on the second night after. For continuous use, or in the nights between these, I have long used a compound Cascarin tablet (℞ Podophylin, Aloin, Cascarin aa gr. ¼) one or more each night, or have depended on the Cascara in a mixture of which I shall shortly speak. I do not like the action of salts or laxative mineral waters in these cases, and, of course, enemata are entirely useless to secure real, effective liver and intestinal action, and should be used only in an emergency.