RETROSPECT 183
The
sum of these numbers, 4, 23, 1, 21, 12, and 39, makes up the total of
100. Of the four cases remaining under (e), No. 12 was a surgical
failure after the enzyme treatment, and the remaining three were evidently very
advanced and malignant cases. The lack of anything more than “ improvement “
and “prolongation of life” in the twenty-one cases under (d), and the
failure of the four cases under (e) might conceivably be due to injections
too weak or doses too small, or to both, for those particular cases. I am,
however, reminded of Blumenthal’s opinion (p. 2), and the possibility or
probability must not be overlooked that they may have been so advanced and
hopeless that no possible treatment could have saved them. The like probably
held in the nine “test” cases treated by Messrs. Ball and Thomas.
The
impression made upon the mind of another, who more than once has had success*
with the enzyme treatment, and who understands and fully appreciates its
scientific foundations—I mean Captain F. W. Lambelle, M.D., R.A.M.C., lately
operating surgeon of the Military Hospital, York—may be cited.
* In all four cases, treated as described in the present
writing. They were (1) chondro-sarcoma of ribs; (2) encephaloid carcinoma of
breast; (3) lympho-sarcoma, induced by X-ray treatment for carotid aneurysm by
another medical man; and (4) round-celled sarcoma of jaw. The fate of the third
is described in the present writing. The other three are, I believe, alive and
well. Concerning (2) see Appendix L.
Regarding the case of lympho-sarcoma, it may be mentioned,
as showing the true inwardness of the pathological distinction of sarcoma and
carcinoma, that in the microscopical examination of sections of the treated
tumour after death the keratinous remains of tumour-cells were “mistaken” for
epithelial cells by an official pathologist, and the diagnosis of “epithelioma”
was given. I do not term this a mistake, for it was clear evidence of the truth
of my contention, that sarcoma-cells are as much, or as little, “epithelial
cells” as those of epithelioma or of trophoblast.