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Show DR. FOWLER ON CANCER. Chief Surgeon of Holy Cross Hospital Has a New Theory. j After a long series of experiments, j a thorough investigation of the sub- j ject, and a number of successful dem- i onstrations. Dr. Allen Fowler has de clared that under ordinary circum- I stances he will never again manipulate- the surgeon's knife in the treatment treat-ment of cancer. AVhile the chief surgeon sur-geon of the Holy Cross hospital "has thus boldly thrown down the gauntlet against the accepted theory of the medical profession for years in the treatment of the dread malady, he has not abandoned it to the field of incurable in-curable cases. On the contrary, h advocates a cure of great promise the use of the X-ray. The Roetgen ray as a curative agency in tuberculosis, skin diseases and cancer is attracting widespread agitation in the medical profession. While discussion and debates have occupied oc-cupied attention Dr. Fowler has been at work on experiments along the same lines that are absorbing the energies en-ergies of scientists in Europe and of many leading American specialists. The result has been cures that are expected ex-pected to prove permanent. As the use of the ray has been confined to the last few years no data is available as to the permanency of benefits de rived from it, but the cure in. such cases is believed to be positive. Dr. Fowler's position is unique, as the stand he takes places him in diametric dia-metric opposition to the theory universally uni-versally accepted and under which he practiced and demonstrated. He has arrived at the flat conclusion that in cancer the surgeon's knife is nothing short of an instrument of death. "A surgical operation on a cancer the extirpation through the use of the knife severs the lymphatics as a matter mat-ter of necessity," declared the doctor, in explaining his position. "This leaves the mouth of the cells open for the reception of poisonous material and results in the fatal termination 1 in less time than would he the case if left to the efforts of nature. The cutting away of the affected part shortens, not lengthens, life. The pol-J pol-J son soon returns in more or less gen-Icial gen-Icial distribution. Women have sti,'-I sti,'-I fered niost from tile mistaken theory : that the knife is essential, because of j the delicate organisms upon which 'cancers usually appear in their cases. I The cancer may return in the sigatrix ' i or in some distant portion or" the body. ' I "Perhaps one .if trie two most deadly 7 opeiations tor cancer is the very com- i I m-in amputation of the br ast. In j ; nearly all such cases common- l.v regarded as successful, death follows within nveKe months, a!- : i though sixty days is often the limit. I l:i the future when it is necessary to s-j s-j destroy such growths it will be done g I by the application of caustic paste, , electrolysis or the use of the X-ray. i i While t'iie latter is too new to spe.iU i ii r" definitely as a cure for cai.eer. it i certainly has given more promising I j results than any tiling discovered up to I date. This line of treatment was first I brought out in Copenhagen and known J as the light treatment. Sin. light was I the first agency employed. As sun- 1 . 'ighr was scarce there at certain seasons sea-sons and the machinery for its use expensive, it led to the introduction of the X-rays. ' I'nder the X-ray. claimed to b- a germicide, a certain form of cancer known as epithelioma, oi skin cancer, and which is the most frequent variety encountered by far, u'.ceis rf jchis' standing have been healed. Alter two years' trial they have remained healed. History goes ba.-k no further. "It must not be understood, that til use of the X-ray is free from danger. It requires an expert to avoid burning the patient. If used too often oi too long it will produce an escoratlc effect, ef-fect, causing sloughing of the skin, if not deeper injuries. As we are becoming becom-ing better acquainted with th" working work-ing of this light there is little or no danger in the hands of the skilled operator. op-erator. The almost only drawback is th length of time required and the Inconvenience In-convenience in finding a skilled operator op-erator convenient to the patient." The use of the X-ray came into general gen-eral discussion among physicians yesterday yes-terday through the publication of reports re-ports of cures in the east through that agency. In the same connection came a story from London of the cure cf .1 cancer through the application of violet leaves in the form of a poultice. It was greeted with derision. "The story mie;ht have hud its origin through the face that the violet ray. which Is emphasized in the X-ray. has been under wide discussion in this connection," con-nection," said lit. Charles Plummor. "The wonderful X-ray is in the Infancy of Us development. It has been advo-vated advo-vated in cases of tubercular diseases of the skin, lupus, etc.. and has bn used with success through its action in destroying the germ. The X-ray is at a stage of development where it wouid be difficult to state Its limitations."' "So far as the violet theory is concerned, con-cerned, the patient would have enjoyed greater benefit had the violets been placed beside her and applied as a bouquet," said Dr. T. F. Reatty. "In relation to the X-ray a great many things are said for it that appear justified. jus-tified. The common view .that it is curing consumption, referring to pitl- I monary tuberculosis, is incorrect, rfu - S cessful experiments have been made in tubercular skin diseases, however." t |