PRICE, TWENTY-FIVE CENTS 
DIET 
IN 
TUMOR AND CANCER 
EPHRAIM CUTTER, M.D., LL.D. 
JOHN A. CUTTER, M.D., F.S.Sc. 
NEW YOACH^^fO&K)N 
891 TO 
REBECCA SULLIVAN CUTTER, 
CASE XXVII, 
Wife and Mother of the writers, this essay is tenderly dedicated. 
Had she availed herself of the use of the knife, which removes results and not causes, 
she would, humanly speaking, have died; but she is a living argument, which we cannot 
refute or ignore, that the world progresses and that hope should never be killed in those 
chronically diseased. CONTENTS. 
Abnormal tissue subject to nutrition, p. 17, col. i. 
Animal food, power of, p. iS, col. ii. 
Appetite, conversion of, p. 19, col. ii. 
Baked beans, effects upon epileptics, p. 18, col. ii. 
Beef essence in typho-malarial fever, p. 17, col. i 
in cancer, p. 10, col. ii. 
Benevolence of the rich, need of more, p. ig, col. ii. 
Best conditions for cure, p. 19, col. i. 
Bright’s disease, food in, p. 17, col. ii. 
Cancer, cases of. 
abdominal and thoracic cavities; vertebral 
column, p. 14, col. ii. 
abdominal walls; fibro-cystic tumor, p. ir, 
case xxiv. 
breast, p. 12, case xxv. 
breast and chest walls, p. ir, case xxiii. 
breast, pseudo-cancer, p. 5, case xiii. 
breast, pseudo cancer, p. 6, case xiv. 
calvarium, heart, and liver, p. 9, case xvii. 
degeneration of fibroid tumor into, p. 15, col. i. 
eye, tissues internal angle of, pp. 6, 7, 8, 
case xv. 
fungous haematoids, p. 15, col. i. 
scapula, p. 8, case xvi. 
womb, p. 9, case xviii. 
womb, p. 9, case xix. 
womb, p. 10, case xxi. 
womb, p. 11, case xxii. 
womb, p. 12, case xxvi. 
womb, heart complications, p. 13, case xxvii. 
wrist and axilla, p. 10, case xx. 
Cancer. 
all diagnoses of, may not be correct, p. 1, col. ii. 
alleged cure of, by mulatto in Paris, p. 20, 
col. ii. 
alleged cure of, by quacks, p. 19, col. ii; p. 20, 
cols, i, ii. 
bioplasm with diseased impress (Beale), p. 14, 
col. i. 
case of fungous hcematoids, caused by ill-nutri- 
tion of poverty and orphanage, p. 15, cols, 
i, ii. 
cured by food, p. 21, col. i. 
definition of, p. 14, col. i. 
degeneration of fibroids and solid tumors into, 
p. 15, col. i. 
different types of, p. 19, col. i. 
Cancer. 
disease of malnutrition, pp. 14, 15; p. 21, col. i. 
early stages not a blood disease, p. 14, col. i. 
habits of dissipation, wrong feeding, and bad 
modes of life, p. 14, col. ii. 
has been cured by systemic treatment, p. 1, 
col. ii. 
hereditary taint, Beale’s view, p. 14, col. i. 
histological elements out of normal place, p. 
14, col. i. 
hospitals of New York, p. 20, col. i. 
if disease of nutrition, should be attacked 
through food, p. 16, col. i. 
may be caused by loss of nerve-force, p. 18. 
mental depression a cause, p. 18, col. ii. 
more prevalent amongst ill fed, improperly 
fed, and abused by themselves and others, 
p. 15, col. i. 
one-half awful effect mortal terror aroused by 
its name, p. 1, col. ii. 
tissue, molecular changes in, p. 16, col. ii. 
tissue under malignant mob law, p. 14, col. i. 
training for health against disease, p. 16, col. i. 
treatment of, by other means than the knife, 
p. 1, col. i. 
worry a cause, p. 18, col. ii. 
worst word in the world, p. 16, col. i. 
wrong use of injection of hot water in, p. 15, 
col i. 
Consumption, food in, p. 23, col. i. 
Consumption and pleurisy, food in, p. 18, col. i. 
Cure of Cancer. 
alleged claims to, by quacks, p. 19, col. ii; p. 
20, cols, i, ii. 
best conditions for, p. 19, col. i. 
by food, p. 21, col. i. 
by self-denial, faith, perseverance, pluck, de- 
termination, and energy, p. 19, col. i. 
claims of, by New York cancer hospitals, p. 
20, col. i. 
in sanitarium, p. 19, col. i. 
need of means for, p. 19, col. ii. 
need of time, p. 19, col. ii. 
published claims to, p. 19, col. ii; p. 20, cols, 
i, ii. 
Destruction of the poor is their poverty, p. 19, 
col. ii. 
Diet in cancer, p. 1, col. i. VI 
Contents. 
Disease and sickness physiological mobs, p. 16, 
col ii. 
Disease, definition of, p. 16, col. ii. 
Epileptics, effects of baked beans upon, p. 18, col. ii. 
Epithelioma of tongue, galvano-cautery, p. 20, 
cols, i., ii. 
Fibroid tumors, rationale of, p. 23, col. i. 
Flour a poor nerve-food, p. 18, col. ii. 
Food. 
a cause and cure of fibroid tumors, p. 1, col. i. 
aesthetics of, p. 21, col ii. 
an agent of tremendous power, p. 17, col. i; 
p. 21, col. i. 
and disease, p. 16. 
and uterine fibroids, p. I, col. i. 
as a medicine in uterine fibroids, p. 1, col. i. 
curatively changes tissue, p. 17. 
definition of, p. 22, col. i. 
diversity of opinion upon, p. 22, col. i. 
ethics of, p. 21, col. ii. 
healthy, gives advantages over bad surround- 
ings, p. 22, col. ii. 
in Bright’s disease, p. 17, col. ii. 
in consumption, p. 23, col. i. 
in consumption and pleurisy, p. 18, col. i. 
in pneumonitis, p. 18, col. i. 
in syphilis, p. 23, col. i. 
in typhoid fever, p. 17, col. ii. 
in typho-malarial fever, p. 17, col. i. 
man helpless and feeble in choice of, p. 21, 
col. i. 
normal, p. 22, cols, i, ii. 
of mothers of nursing babes, p. 22, col. ii. 
Galvanism of fibroids, p. 23, col. ii. 
Health, standard of, p. 22, col. ii. 
Hope, p. 19, col. ii. 
How crops grow, p. 14, col. ii. 
Impossibilities, ethics of, p. 16. 
Intestines, small, organized to digest vegetable 
food, p. 22, col. ii. 
Investigations by responsible bodies under patron- 
age, p 20, col. i. 
Loss of nerve-force a cause of cancer, p. 18. 
Malignancy, definition of, p. 15, col. ii. 
Malignant disease, cure of, p. 15. 
Man helpless and feeble in choice of food, p. 21, 
col. i. 
Management of patients, p. 19, col. i. 
Mental depression, relation to cancer, p. 18, col. ii. 
Milk direct from gland avoids fermentation, p. 21, 
col. ii. 
Nature does the work, p. 19, col. ii. 
Nerve-force, loss of, a cause of cancer, p. 18. 
Normal food and favorable circumstances mean 
health, p. 16, cols, i, ii. 
Nutrition, abnormal tissue subject to, p. 17. 
Opir ion, diversity of, as to food, p. 22, col. i. 
Original workers, bulldozing of, p. 21, col. ii. 
Pastes, p. 20, cols, i, ii. 
Plaster jackets of Sayre, p. 21, col. i. 
Pneumonitis, food in, p. 18, col. i. 
Potatoes raised without manure, p. 14, col. i. 
Published claims to cure, p. 19, col. ii; p. 20. 
Pugilists and boat-racers, p. 22, col. i. 
Quackery, p. 19, col. ii; p. 20, cols, i , ii. 
Sickness, definition of, p. 16, col. ii. 
Standard of health, p. 22, col. ii. 
Starch a poor nerve-food, p. 18, col. ii. 
Stomach organized to digest meat, p. 22, col. i. 
Sugar a poor nerve-food, p. 18, col. ii. 
System sensitive to daily and hourly impressions, 
p. 19, col. i. 
Time, need of, in cure, p. 19, col. ii. 
Tissues of body, time of change, p. 16, col. ii. 
Tripe in Bright’s disease, p. 17, col. ii. 
Trophopathy in the fatty and fibroid degenerations, 
p. I, col. i. 
Tumor, cases of. 
abdominal fibroid, p. 1, case i. 
abdominal fibroid, p. 3, case v. 
abdominal fibro cystic, p. 4, case vii. 
abdominal fibroid, degeneration into cancer, 
p. 14, col. i. 
abdominal and uterine fibroids, p. 2, case iii. 
fibro-scrofulous disease of neck, p. 5, case xi. 
fibroid of stomach, p. 5, case viii. 
fibroid of womb, p. 18, col. i. 
fibroids c mplicating pregnancy, p. 4, case vi. 
multilobar fibro-myoid, p. 2, case ii. 
uterine fibroids, p. 5, case ix. 
uterine fibroids, p. 5, case x. 
uterine fibroids, p. 5, case xii. 
uterine myo fibroids, p. 2, case iv. 
Tumor, fibroid, rationale of, p. 23, col. i. 
Types of disease, different, p. 19, col. i. 
Typhoid fever, food in, p. 17, col. ii. 
Typho-malarial fever, cure of, by food, p. 17, col. i. 
Unrequited services of profession, p. 19, col. ii. 
Urine of baby nursed by a healthy mother, p. 21, 
col. ii. 
Vicarious action of organs to help others diseased, 
p. ib, col. ii. INDEX OE NAMES. 
Albany Medical Annals, p. 1, col. i. 
American Journal of Obstetrics, p. I, col. i; p. 2, 
col. i; p. 5, col. i. 
American Medical Association, p. I, col. i; p. 7> 
col. i; p. 20, col. i. 
Army and Navy, p. 17, col. ii. 
Army of the Potomac, p. 17, col. i. 
Beale, Dr. Lionel, p. 14, col. i. 
Berlin Congress, page 1, col. i; p. 13, col. ii; p. 
20, col. i. 
Boston, p. 1, col. ii; p. 6, col. i; p. 17, col. ii; 
p. 20, col. i. 
Boston Herald, p. 20, col. ii. 
Bowditch, Dr. H. I., p. 4, col. i; p. 6, col. i; p. 
8, col. ii; p. 16, col. i. 
Brown, Dr. W. S., p. 3, col. ii; p. 4, col. ii. 
California, p. 3, col. ii. 
Cambridge, Mass., p. 2, col. ii. 
Congress. Medical, Ninth International, p. I, col. i. 
Tenth International p. 1, col. i; p. 23, col. i. 
Connecticut, p. 20, col. i. 
Connecticut Agricultural Station, p. 14, col. i. 
Cutler, Dr., Peterborough, N. H., p. i,col. ii; p. 
2, col. i. 
Cutter, Dr. Benjamin, p. 14, col. ii; p. 18, col. i. 
Cutter, Dr. Ephraim, p. 1, col. ii; p. 2, cols, i, ii; 
p 3, col. ii; p. 4, cols, i, ii; p. 5, cols, i, ii; p. 9, 
cols i, ii; p. 10, cols, i, ii; p. 11, col. i; p. 12, 
col. ii; p. 23, col. ii. 
Cutter E. & J A., p. i,col. i, p 5, col. ii; p. 11, 
cols i, ii; p. 12, col. i; p. 13, col. i. 
Cutter, Rebecca S., p iii. 
Dearborn, Surgeon F. M., p. 18, col. 1. 
Europe, p. 13, col. ii. 
Faraday, p. 16, col. i. 
Franklin, U. S. S., p. 18, col. i. 
Grant, General, p. 20, col. ii. 
Gynaecological Society of Boston, p. 5, col. ii. 
Gynaecology, Section of, Ninth International Medi- 
cal Congress, p. 1, col. i. 
Gynaecology. Section of, Tenth International Medi- 
cal Congress, p. 1, col. i. 
Hale, Dr. Lorenzo, p. 1, col. i. 
Harlow, Dr. J. M., p. 3, col. ii. 
Hayward, Dr. George, p. 6, col. ii. 
Johnson, Prof. S. W., p. 14, col. i. 
Keene, N. H., p. 6, col. i. 
Kimball, Dr Gilman, p. 4, col. ii. 
Liebig, p. 8, col. i. 
Los Angeles, Cal., p. 12, col. i. 
Marcy, H. O., M.D., LL.D., p. 1, col. i. 
Massachusetts, p. 17, col. ii. 
Medical Bulletin, p. 1. 
Medical Register, p. i, col. i. 
Medical Society of the State of Georgia, p. 12, 
col. ii. 
Middlesex County, Mass., p. 17, col. ii. 
Moore, Dr. J. M., p. 3, col. ii. 
New York, p. 12, col. ii; p. 20, col. i. 
Ninth International Medical Congress, p. 1, col. i. 
North Adams, Mass., p. 20, col. ii. 
Nunn, Prof. R J., p. 12, col. ii. 
Orange Judd & Co., p. 14, col. ii. 
Paris, p. 20, col. ii. 
Peabody, Mass., p. 17, col. ii. 
Peterborough, N. H., p. 1, col. ii. 
Philadelphia, Pa., p. 7, col. i; p. 12, col. i. 
Playfair Dr. Lyonell, p. 16, col. ii; p. 23, col. i. 
Riverius, Lazarus, p. 20, col. i. 
Sayre, Dr., p. 21, col. i. 
Shoemaker, Dr., p. 1, col. i. 
Stoneham, Mass., p. 3, col. ii; p. 4, col. ii. 
Storer, D. H., M.D., LL.D., p. 4, col. ii. 
Tenth International Medical Congress, p. I, col. i; 
p. 23, col. i. 
Tenth International Medical Congress, Berlin, 
Section of Gynaecology, p. 1, col. i. 
Thayer, Dr. W. N., p. 8, col. i. 
Twitchell, Dr. Amos, case of, pp. 6, 7, 8; p. 15, 
col. ii; p. 16, col. i; p. 21, col. ii. 
Vermont, p. 8, col. ii. 
Woburn, Mass., p. 2, col. ii; p. 3, coL ii. 
Wyman, Dr. Morrill, p. 2, col. ii. DIET IN TUMOR AND CANCER 
BY 
EPHRAIM CUTTER, M.D., LL.D., 
President American Branch Society of Science, Letters, and Art, London ; Corresponding Member 
Belgian and Italian Microscopical Societies; Associate Member Philosophical 
Society of Great Britain, etc. ; 
AND 
JOHN ASHBURTON CUTTER, M.D., B.Sc., F.S.Sc., 
Corresponding Member Gynaecological Society of Boston, etc. 
[At/ rights reserved. Copyrighted iSqz. ] 
HISTORICAL. 
IN the American Journal of Obstetrics for 
October, 1877, appeared an article by the 
senior writer, entitled “Food as a Medicine 
in Uterine Fibroids,” in which an effort was 
made to show the power of food as a cause and 
cure of fibroid tumors. This subject was more 
fully explicated before the Section of General 
Medicine of the American Medical Associa- 
tion, 1889, in a joint paper: E. and J. A. 
Cutter, “On Trophopathy in the Fatty and 
Fibroid Degenerations;” also, again, in an 
article by the senior writer, “ Food and 
Uterine Fibroids,” before the Section of 
Gynaecology, Tenth International Medical 
Congress, Berlin. 
In 1882, the senior writer wrote “Diet in 
Cancer,” and laid the manuscript aside. In 
1887, the son discovered it, made a copy, and 
sent it to the distinguished editor of the Albany 
Medical Annals, Dr. Lorenzo Hale, the article 
appearing in the July and August numbers of 
that year. The father said to the son, “You 
have done an awful thing, because when any 
one talks of curing cancer by any systemic 
means he is called a fool or a quack.” But 
the reception of this paper by the profession 
was encouraging; it was noted editorially in 
the Medical Register, then edited by Dr. Shoe- 
maker, and, by invitation of H. O. Marcy, 
M.D., LL.D., President of the Section of 
Gynaecology of the Ninth International Med- 
ical Congress, a rtsumi of the article was 
presented to this section. 
It may be said, then, that the profession is 
ready and anxious to study the treatment of 
cancer by other means than the knife, and we 
are therefore constrained to present in this 
paper the histories of some of our cases of 
cancer and tumor that have been under our 
care and received diet treatment. One of two 
things is certain: (i) cancer has been cured 
by systemic treatment, or (2) all diagnoses 
of cancer are not correct. In either case there 
is hope for the sufferer. 
A case writes: “One-half the awful effect 
of cancer is in the mortal terror aroused by its 
name.” But we leave these general considera- 
tions for the second portion of this essay, and 
proceed to the following:— 
CASE HISTORIES. 
Case I. E. Cutter, Attendant. Tumor. 
A middle-aged, married lady, residing near 
Peterborough, N. H., was the patient of Dr. 
Cutler of that town. This gentleman, some 
years since, called my attention to this case as 
being a fibroid suitable for galvanism. Ac- 
cording to his description (and he is an intelli- 
gent and careful observer), the growth was hard, 
large, and abdominal, and of several years’ 
standing. There were severe and copious 
metrorrhagias, general malaise, exhaustion, and 
greatly reduced condition of general health. 
It is possible, but not probable, that there 
might have been a mistake in the diagnosis, as 
three-fourths of the cases of female abdominal 
chronic tumors are fibroids, and, when asso- 
ciated with haemorrhages, a much larger pro- 
portion. 
Arrangements were made with physicians 
and patient to visit Boston for the purpose of 
having galvanism applied, if deemed advisa- 
ble, a month later. Meantime, in order to 
prepare for the operation, on the principle that 
it is useless to apply stimuli to an enfeebled 
system—to give the whip when the horse needs 
provender—the patient was put upon a diet 
largely of animal food. 
The time of appointment came. The pa- 
tient did not appear. This circumstance re- 
(Published in The Medical Bulletin, August and September, 1891.) 2 
Diet in Tumor and Cancer—Cases. 
ported to Dr. Cutler produced a reply like the 
following: “Dear Doctor, Mrs. —tried the 
diet faithfully, and, when the time came to go 
to Boston as agreed, found her tumor di- 
minished one-third in size, and she thought 
there was no need of an operation.” The 
writer thought so, too; pleased to find that 
so good a result was obtained in the brief 
space of a few weeks. Remained well at last 
accounts. 
Case II. E. Cutter, Attendant. Tumor. 
In September, 1875, a case of multilobar 
fibro-myoid came under my charge. The 
patient was 44 years of age, single, in feeble 
health, an invalid for many years. She had 
no haemorrhages, but was afflicted with consti- 
pation, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, and weak- 
ness. Menses were regular. In the right 
hypogastrium there was a large lobe, hard and 
smooth as a cobble-stone. It was the seat of a 
great deal of pain night and day. Two or 
three lobes of the same density and roundness 
filled the pelvic cavity and crowded the uterus 
up behind the pubis. In this position it was 
strongly retroflexed and distorted. The growth 
so occupied the pelvis as to leave but little 
spare room for the viscera. Circumstances for- 
bade the use of galvanism, and the strict diet 
was adopted, solely with a view to reduction 
of tumor. Being a woman of rare firmness of 
mind and resolute will, combined with implicit 
faith in her adviser, she adhered to it faithfully 
for the space of nine months. At this time the 
tumor became sensibly reduced in size in both 
the abdominal and pelvic portions. The pain 
was removed, flesh and strength improved, and 
altogether, for such an unpromising case, the 
result was mpre than could be reasonably 
hoped for. It was then decided, as circum- 
stance favored, to apply galvanism, in the hope 
of yet further improvement. An application 
of fifteen minutes’ duration was made; one 
electrode introduced through the abdomen and 
one through the rectum. Remarkable results 
of an unusual character followed, but as this 
portion of her history is foreign to the subject 
it will be given elsewhere. 
The fact of the arrest and partial reduction 
of the fibroid by animal diet was proven suffi- 
ciently by this case. 
(See, in connection with this case, Case xlvi, 
p. 304, A. M. J. Obs., April, 1887. Remarks: 
This case is now alive, and the tumors reduced 
to mere nodules. July, 1891.) 
Case III. E. Cutter, Attendant. T'-mor. 
In December, 1875, Mrs. R., of Cam- 
bridge, Mass., was suddenly seized with an 
attack of alarming copious uterine haemor- 
rhage. It was subsequent upon overexertion. 
She was 48 years old; mother of four chil- 
dren; small in size, pale, thin, somewhat 
nervous; a hard worker withal—one of those 
remarkable specimens of industry that would 
be more remarkable if not so often found in 
New England homes. On physical examina- 
tion, the abdomen was found to be occupied 
with several hardish lobes, somewhat painful to 
the touch. They were clustered about the 
lower part of the abdomen. There were also 
some suspicious lobes in the region of the liver. 
The vagina was found to be occupied by a large 
intra-uterine fibroid. The os uteri was dilated. 
The finger, annularly swept around the tumor, 
found a solid juncture between it and the uterus 
an inch or two within the os. The presenting 
surface of the fibroid was rotund, soft, spongy, 
and cribbed, with blind that appeared 
to be the points of exit for the haemorrhage. 
The animal diet, with quinine and tonics, was 
heartily adopted. Subsequently, Dr. Morrill 
Wyman, of Cambridge, saw the patient in con- 
sultation, and decidedly advised against an 
application of galvanism, as the case had such 
a malignant look. A bad issue might bring 
the operation into disrepute. 
It appeared to him more like a case of can- 
cer than anything else. There was much to 
sustain this view in the systemic and local 
symptoms. The strict diet was continued. The 
result has been an arrest of development, of 
haemorrhages; restoration of bloom and color 
of health to the cheeks. The whole general 
appearance had improved pari passu with the 
local benefits. The tumor has diminished, as 
evinced by the condensation and hardness of 
the uterine portion, by the filling up of the 
cul-de-sacs, and by lessened size. She attends 
to her duties in the household, likes her diet, 
and altogether enjoys better health than for 
many years. Her constipation is relieved by 
the use of St. Leon’s spring-water, an experi- 
ence confirmed by other cases. Her diet pre- 
viously had been mainly starches and sugar. 
1890, alive and quite well at last accounts. 
Case IV. E. Cutter, Attendant. Tu?nor. 
Mrs. M. E. C., aged 30 years; resides in 
Woburn, Mass.; four children; age of young- 
est child, 10 months. Always enjoyed good Diet in Tumor and Cancer—Cases. 
3 
health. At the birth of her last child nothing 
was noticed out of the way with the uterus. 
The labor was natural and easy. January 1, 
1877, she was seized with severe uterine haem- 
orrhages, which continued more or less up to 
April 1st—the date of my first visit. Found 
her condition one of suffering from loss of 
appetite, blood, color, flesh, and strength. 
She had been confined to her bed for sixteen 
days previously. Temperature of body ranged 
from ioo° to 1020. Cough, night-sweats, no 
severe chills. No physical signs of trouble 
with the lungs. No abdominal tumor. Rectal 
tenesmus, general health very bad, and run- 
ning down rapidly. 
Examination per Vaginam Os uteri pushed 
up under pubis. Uterine cavity 3 inches 
deep. Direction normal. Behind and con- 
tinuous with uterus, an obovoid, elastic, semi- 
solid, fixed mass was felt. When the sound was 
introduced into the uterus, it elevated the tumor 
by uplifting the womb. Per rectum, the tumor 
felt as large as the closed fist, and spongy. 
Diagnosis.—Myo-fibroid, because of the 
hsemorrhages, of attachment to and incorpora- 
tion with the uterine tissues, and also on the 
general principle that three-fourths, if not 
nine-tenths, of all tumors connected with the 
uterus are fibroid. 
Treat7nent.—Strict diet, quinine, ale, and 
aromatic sulphuric-acid baths. The question 
of galvanism was discussed. It was thought 
that it had better be deferred for the present. 
April4th.—Much better. Eats animal food 
well. Uses the Cutter invalid chair with 
much relief. No hsemorrhages. Advised 
liquor ferri persulphatis, U. S. P., should 
hsemorrhage recur. She thought the quinine 
made her sweat at night. Last night it was 
discontinued, and no sweats occurred. 
A vaginal and rectal examination confirmed 
the diagnosis. The tumor seemed smaller and 
less punky. 
Advised the mixed diet to be used sparingly, 
as a side issue, when the strict diet was dis- 
tasteful to the palate. 
April J2th.—Visited her with the battery, 
prepared to use it. Found the patient sitting 
up and dressed. Now likes her meat very 
much, and lives on the strict diet. Has found 
the chair very useful indeed. On examination, 
the tumor was found to be diminished one- 
half size. It was more compact, movable, 
and pointed. Temperature, 990. No medi- 
cine. Galvanism indefinitely postponed, as it 
was not needed. 
April 25th.—No tumor felt on palpation 
or seen with the speculum. General appear- 
ance and health very much improved. Night- 
sweats gone. Appetite good. Up and about 
the house. Walked out to my carriage to 
speak with my wife. 
Dr. W. S. Brown, of Stoneham, Mass., a 
skilled gynaecologist, and Dr. J. M. Moore, of 
Woburn, Mass., the family physician, with 
myself, examined the patient, and were unable 
to detect any tumor. General health restored. 
Remained so at last account, 1886. 
1888.—Patient wrote from California about 
a pension on account of her husband, now 
dead. She emphasized that she was entirely 
well. 
Case V. E. Cutter, Attendant. Tumor., 
In August, 1875, Miss — was brought to 
my attention by Dr. J. M. Harlow, of Woburn, 
Mass., as possibly a fit subject for galvanism. 
She had suffered severely from haemorrhages, 
menstrual and inter-menstrual, so that she was 
blanched, thin, weak, and feeble, although she 
was able to be about the house. On examina- 
tion, the abdomen was found to be occupied, 
from the umbilicus downward, by a central, 
round, dense, and unyielding tumor. It was 
not very movable. There was no wave on 
palpation, but dullness on percussion. The 
uterus could be felt in the vagina, and there 
was no evidence of any tumor in the pelvis. 
From the weakened condition of the patient, 
it was advised not to have the operation of 
galvano-puncture at present, but to use the 
strict diet as a preliminary measure. It should 
be stated that her diet previously had been 
flour preparations mostly. The change was 
heartily and thoroughly adopted. It was soon 
followed by marked improvement. The ab- 
dominal hsemorrhages ceased. The appetite 
and strength improved. The tumor began to 
diminish, so that in nine months’ time from 
the adoption of the strict diet it could not 
be detected. A few months subsequently, 
however, by a careful examination, with all 
the clothing removed from abdomen, in dor- 
sal position, knees drawn up, a mere nodule 
of a little globar mass, the size of an English 
walnut, after some searching was discovered. 
Since then it has not increased. She enjoys good 
health, much better than for years. Pursues 
her occupation as clerk in an insurance officew 4 
Diet in Tumor and Cancer—Cases. 
She adheres to the diet, and finds flour and 
its preparations very unpalatable and distress- 
ing, when forced by circumstances to partake 
of it. Rather than eat flour, she was known 
to have left a social church entertainment just 
before supper-time. 
This case has been regarded as a mere co- 
incidence ; but, taken in connection with the 
others, and the known marked improvement 
that almost invariably follows the adoption of 
the strict diet, that view is improbable. 
1891, patient living, in good health, and no 
return of growths. 
Case VI. E. Cutter, Attendant. Tumor. 
Mrs. B., aged 34; married; no children. 
Father and mother died of consumption. She 
herself, in 1864, was pronounced by Dr. H. I. 
Bowditch, of Boston, to have the same disease 
dangerously. Still, as she came of a family 
that was very tenacious of life, and was of an 
indomitable will, she managed to live passably 
for most of the time on ordinary treatment. 
In 1872, she discovered that there was an 
enlargement at the lower part of the abdomen. 
Her physician examined and pronounced it to 
be due to fibroid uterine growths, that would 
destroy her life. In January, 1874, she came 
under the care of the writer, and was put on 
the systemic plan for consumption. In Octo- 
ber, 1874, she became pregnant, and as the 
uterus developed the tumor became more 
manifest, and its presence was discovered by 
the writer, as the patient had, from motives of 
false delicacy, concealed its existence. It 
appeared as a chain of six tumors traversing 
the abdomen from side to side. The skin was 
very thin, and the physical characters of the 
tumors quite prominent. The largest tumor 
was of the size of a goose-egg. They were 
moderately hard, movable, painless, and at- 
tached to the anterior surface of the enlarged 
uterus. They occasioned no trouble but from 
the anxiety caused by their presence. In due 
time a healthy, vigorous child was born, who 
continues so up to the present time. In two 
months after the birth of the child the tumors 
entirely disappeared, and never recurred. The 
mother had a plentiful lacteal secretion, and 
considered herself well enough to assume 
household and church-fair duties, against the 
advice of the writer and others. They killed 
her. This is not a hard expression; for there 
is no doubt, from experience derived from 
other cases, that, had she obeyed the instruc- 
tions as to exertion and duty, she might be 
alive, humanly speaking. 
Although the dissidence of the tumors was 
an incidental effect, still, as the strict diet is 
that employed for this purpose as well as for 
tuberculosis, the history illustrates the value of 
food as a medicine in the treatment of uterine 
fibroids. 
Case VII. E. Cutter, Attendant. Tumor. 
Mrs. Dr. W., aged about 34 years, is a 
healthy looking woman, of good proportion, 
fair size, and blonde complexion. When seen, 
in December, 1876, she complained of great 
distension of the abdomen, caused by a large 
tumor, which had existed seven years, and had 
continuously gone on without any relief from 
advice or treatment. For the first few years 
she suffered much from pain in the bowels. 
Now there is none. No children; though eight 
years married. Her general health was good, 
but she suffered much from the discomfort and 
anxiety about the abnormal enlargement of her 
person. On examination the abdomen was 
found occupied by a large, multilobar, hard, 
movable tumor. There was at this time no 
fluctuation. In the pelvis it presented the 
same characteristics, while it pushed the vaginal 
wall downward so that there was a prolapsus. 
The uterus could not be felt in any posture of 
the body. Bowels constipated. Menses pain- 
ful and scanty. Diagnosis, fibroid. This was 
the opinion of most of the physicians who ex- 
amined her, including her husband; Dr. Gil- 
man Kimball, of Lowell; and Dr. Brown, of 
Stoneham, Mass.; except D. H. Storer, LL.D., 
of Boston, who diagnosed an ovarian cyst many 
years before. 
December 6, 1876, Mrs. W. went upon the 
strict diet as a remedy. December 20th, re- 
ports abdomen diminished one and a half 
inches. Matters have much changed as to 
physical signs. Some medium-sized lobes of a 
semi-hard character were felt in the abdomen. 
On the right side there is a large fluctuating 
cyst extending from the cartilages of the ribs to 
beyond the pelvis and into the prolapsed por- 
tion of the posterior vaginal wall. Bimanual 
examination detected a distinct wave and fluc- 
tuation from vagina to epigastrium. 
This seemed inexplicable, and her husband 
was not convinced of there being any cyst. 
Still, it is history as I found it. She says the 
painful distension is lessened. Complains of 
frequent micturition and bearing down. She Viet in Tumor and Cancer—Cases. 
5 
dislikes her diet, yet adheres faithfully to it. 
Takes no other medicines. Uterus not felt. 
December 28th.—Has lessened two and one- 
half inches in size. Continues diet. Appetite 
good. Examined in the standing posture, the 
uterus can be easily felt. It was found pushed 
up beyond the pubis. This was the first time 
the uterus could be detected in my examinations 
during the progress of the case. 
May jth.—Diminished six and one-half 
inches. 
May ijth.—Is down to natural size. When 
last unwell, had a painless menstruation. 
Abdomen tympanitic throughout, except over 
the hypogastrium, where a movable, solid 
mass is felt in any position of the body. 
Motion communicated to uterus affects the ab- 
dominal tumor. 
Latest examination finds a still further dimi- 
nution. Tumor just perceptible in the centre 
over the pubis. 
For the first two weeks of diet treatment she 
began to grow smaller. Softening followed, 
and in about five weeks there was a sudden 
collapse in size. 
Notwithstanding the obscurity of some of 
the symptoms and the doubtful nature of the 
diagnosis, that might have been cleared up 
somewhat by the aspirator, the case is in- 
structive when taken in connection with the 
others. There was a decided, marked, and 
an incontrovertible change for the better. 
Menstruation has become painless and natural. 
The distress and trouble have passed away. 
The abdomen is no longer enlarged. The 
patient may practically be considered as re- 
stored to health. 
Suppose the case was a fibro-cyst combined 
with ovarian tumor (which no one could posi- 
tively tell unless gastrotomy were performed), 
it in no way diminished the value of the his- 
tory. The facts are as above stated. The report 
is historical to the latest sources of information. 
May, 1890, her husband, a physician, writes 
that she is well. 
The foregoing are quoted somewhat in full 
from the American Journal of Obstetrics for 
October, 1877, with histories to date as far as 
possible. 
The following are histories of some of our 
cases of tumor treated since then:— 
Case VIII. E. Cutter, Attendant. 
1882. Mr. —, aged 60. Fibroid of stom- 
ach, with enlarged liver. After hard work, and 
by nourishment per rectum, the patient’s con- 
dition was so improved that he could take food 
by the mouth. He was cured, and remains so, 
April, 1890. 
Case IX. E. Cutter, Attendant. 
Woman. Unmarried. Forty years old. 
August, 1883. Tumor as large as an orange 
at fundus uteri. Anteflexion and anteversion. 
Double inguinal hernia. A tough case. Dieted 
for tumor. Wore double truss for hernia, 
made by C. E. Riker, of New York.; also 
wore Cutter stem-pessary. Result, tumor gone. 
Calls herself well, April, 1890; July, 1891. 
Case X. E. and J. A. Cutter, Attendants. 
Woman; unmarried. Brazilian. 1886. Im- 
mense uterine fibroid. Kept in abeyance by strict 
diet, so that she attended to her literary work. 
Case XI. E. and J. A. Cutter, Attendants. 
May, 1889. Young man, aged 18. Blood 
tuberculous and syphilitic. Large tumor at left 
side of neck, six inches long, extending from the 
trapezius muscle to in front of sterno-cleido- 
mastoid. Imbedded in the tissues of these 
muscles, as evinced later on. Weight, 125. 
Rigid diet. Biniodine of mercury; succus 
alterans. Salicin as needed. Londonderry 
lithia water locally till the tumor began to de- 
generate in an amyloid fashion; openings and 
discharge. By December, 1889, tumor had 
nearly gone, and sores nearly all healed. 
Weight, 160. This case, like many others, 
shows that beef is not a poison. 
This case was exhibited before the Gynaeco- 
logical Society of Boston, in June, 1890; a 
gentleman remarked that he had seen a similar 
case operated on by incision and removal; pro- 
cedure was very bloody, and the case died in a 
year of consumption of the lungs. 1891, well. 
Case XII. E. Cutter, Attendant. 
Woman, aged 40; unmarried. October, 
1883. Tumor, Douglas’s cui de-sac, two inches 
in diameter. Kept in abeyance by diet, and if 
she would allow herself to rest would get rid of 
it. April, 1890. 
Case XIII. E. and J. A. Cutter, Attendants. 
Pseudo- Ca7icer of Breast. 
A married woman, aged 40, came to us in 
1889 with what her physician called cancer of 
the breast. There was present a nodule in the 
right breast, 1 y2 inches in diameter; very pain- 
ful. Further examination revealed the case to 
be suffering from uterine disease, and our 
opinion was that the disease was a fibroid of 6 
Diet in Tumor and Cancer—Cases. 
the breast, the pain being due to reflex causes. 
The tumor has entirely disappeared under diet. 
Case XIV. Middle-aged woman. Called 
cancer of breast by a dozen specialists. Had 
been placed on milk diet, which had done her 
some good. This case had uterine lesion of 
hyperaesthesia and displacement. Woman 
much relieved by diagnosis,—fibroid of breast. 
Do not know what outcome of her case was. 
Case XV. Cancer; Diet of Bread and 
Milk ; Cure. 
In the memoir of the late Dr. Amos Twitch- 
ell, of Keene, N. H., by Dr. H. I. Bowditch, 
Boston, 1851, we find the following account 
of his case:— 
“1. Cancer had appeared in his family. 
His grandmother died of cancer of the breast; 
his sister died of that of the stomach. These 
are all the data of his hereditary tendencies 
that bear upon our main topic. 
“2. In very early life Dr. Twitchell was in 
delicate health. As a youth he was stronger, 
and was among the foremost in all athletic 
sports. While at college he became dyspeptic, 
had jaundice, etc., and subsequently he passed 
gall-stones. Whilst pursuing the studies of his 
profession, he began to suffer from asthma, and 
for about twenty years was very much subject 
to violent attacks of it, causing him during the 
winter to sit up in bed half of every night. 
During all this period he ate animal food freely, 
three times a day, and digested it with ease, 
whereas vegetable food caused dyspeptic diffi- 
culties. Being induced, owing to a severe 
eruption of the face, to abandon this course, 
he gave up, for nine years, the use of meat. 
After some months his face was cured; 
and from the period at which he first aban- 
doned meat he never had an attack of asthma, 
and Dr. Twitchell considered these two facts 
related to each other as cause and effect. 
Moreover, vegetable food was soon easily 
borne. After the nine years of vegetable regi- 
men, he began gradually to resume the milder 
kinds of animal food, such as poultry and 
somewhat more of the solid meats, until two 
years since (1847), when he commenced the 
very rigid diet to be described when treating 
of the local disease which is the more imme- 
diate object of this paper. Finally, I will state, 
as indicative perhaps of the tendencies of the 
cutaneous system to morbid action, that about 
four years ago he had a papular eruption last- 
ing six weeks, and likewise that very many 
years ago he had a wart-like tumor on the 
scalp, which disappeared under the use of 
creasote externally applied. 
“3. The local disease, the course and result 
of which I present as the chief object of in- 
terest, commenced eight or ten years since as 
a small but hard tumor at the internal angle of 
the right eye. When first noticed, it was 
about as large as a mustard-seed, and not pain- 
ful. He occasionally touched it, and had some 
suspicion that it might eventually prove of a 
malignant character. It was imbedded in the 
substance of the skin, and from the first seemed 
very slowly to augment in size. At times he 
thought he felt some lancinating pains in it 
which radiated to the brow. It did not, how- 
ever, interfere with the functions of the lach- 
rymal ducts, etc. About 1843 the tumor had 
become nearly as large as a pea, and a tend- 
ency to the formation of a scab was observed. 
He was then induced to try some local applica- 
tions, and frequently, until 1845, used Jen- 
ning’s ointment. This would remove the scab 
and display three small lobes, from which 
exuded a little purulent fluid. At first the 
morbid growth seemed lessened by this and 
other milder applications, but no permanent 
effect was produced. At times the discharge 
ceased, but only to return again, and the tumor 
gradually lost its trilobed aspect. It was at 
this period quite conspicuous to every by- 
stander. 
11 August, 1845.—Dr. George Hayward, of 
Boston, removed it with the scalpel. For a 
short time the wound seemed doing well, but 
finally it did not heal, and two months after- 
ward it was operated on again, and nitrate of 
silver was applied. Meanwhile, however, 
much local pain had been experienced. It 
was deeper-seated, less transitory, and radiated 
toward the brow and cheek. Sometimes it 
was severe enough to waken him at night, and 
worse usually after long journeys. 
“The applications during 1846-47 were 
chiefly of a very similar character,—cold cream, 
preparations of zinc, etc., and once the iodide 
of lead. All active applications caused inflam- 
mation of the eye. The tumor continued to 
augment slightly, and in the spring of 1847 it 
presented to my eye a decidedly malignant ap- 
pearance. It was an ulcer about the size of the 
top of the finger, with ragged, hard, elevated 
edges; and the irritation from discharge caused Diet in Tumor and Cancer—Cases. 
7 
the patient frequently to apply his handker- 
chief to the part. At night it caused a gluing 
of the lids and a discharge at the side of the 
nose. I certainly believed, and Dr. Twitchell 
tells me that he thought, at the time, that the 
disease would gradually augment and involve 
the eye, and he had determined, if necessary, to 
have this organ extirpated. His general health, 
as it has been already stated, continued good ; 
but, when not actively employed, the mind 
was somewhat depressed at the prospect before 
him. At the meeting of the American Med- 
ical Association, in Philadelphia, May, 1847, 
he consulted several of the eminent men whom 
he met, and I believe, I may say, that all re- 
garded it as a disease of a more serious nature, 
although some thought it might be cured by 
local applications, and others advised a further 
operation. 
“ Dr. Twitchell returned home discouraged, 
and he decided to give up all use of medicines 
internally, or of external applications, but to 
try a course of the most rigid diet. Starting 
from a theory that malignant diseases arise 
from the fact that we take too much carbon 
into our systems, he determined to live from 
that time upon a bread and milk diet; and if, 
at the end of some months, he did not find 
any diminution in the disease, he intended to 
use nothing but bread and water. After his 
return from Philadelphia he adhered strictly to 
the bread and milk. He used three times 
daily from four to six ounces of cream, or the 
richest milk, and same quantity of either white 
or brown bread. He continues that diet still 
(1849). 
“The results upon the local disease were the 
following : The pains in the part were lessened 
almost immediately. The purulent discharge 
very soon began to diminish, and in two or 
three months it was evident that the disease 
was not augmenting. During the following 
winter the improvement was more decided. 
In the spring of 1848, being obliged to ride 
over dusty roads to great distances, the eye was 
more irritated. Nevertheless, he felt, and his 
friends assured him, that the diseased part was 
really lessening and tending toward a cure. 
After that period a steady improvement took 
place. The ulcerated mass, which was so per- 
ceptible to me two years since, has wholly 
gone, and now (August, 1849) I can discover 
no difference between the angles of the two 
eyes, save that in the right one there is a 
minute white spot, about a line in diameter, 
looking like a scar. It is not harder than the 
adjacent parts; and had I not known of the 
existence of previous disease, I should not have 
noticed even this. There is no discharge, no 
pain, and a perfect cure seems to have been 
accomplished of a disease that had been exist- 
ing for about ten years, in a patient aged 68 
years. 
“The effects of this rigid diet on the con- 
stitution, as a whole, are interesting. 
“Respecting his mental condition, Dr. 
Twitched thinks he is much less irritable than 
when he was omnivorous. 
“ He had, at one time, an attack of vertigo 
(to which, however, he has been always liable), 
and, finding that he was growing corpulent 
under the diet, he for a time took less of it. 
“ He has always been as strong as when in- 
dulging in a more generous diet. 
“ He has been able to breathe better. 
“His digestion has been good, but with a 
slight tendency to costiveness. 
“His organs of circulation have been un- 
affected. 
“ Renal excretion for years a little disturbed, 
as is not unfrequently the case in persons of his 
age. 
“Finally, Dr. Twitched presents, to my 
mind, the picture of a hale, robust man, in 
perfect health, so far as one can perceive, and 
but slightly touched by the influence of his 
many years of honorable and successful labor. 
“ Reflections upon Dr. Twitchell’s case :— 
“ i. The most important topic involved in 
the foregoing record is the restoration to health 
from what seemed to be malignant disease, and 
that this result followed the strict diet of bread 
and milk for two years. 
“ 2. The cessation of asthmatic difficulties, 
after they had troubled the patient for twenty 
years, and that this cure likewise followed the 
change of diet from an almost strictly animal 
diet to one quite the reverse, viz., strictly 
vegetable.” [Is milk vegetable food?] 
“3. Some readers may ask if these two 
cures (see following case) are not merely ex- 
amples of the post hoc, and they may deny 
that there is any complete evidence of the 
propter hoc. I consent to the doubt, for it has 
entered my own mind. Nevertheless, if mere 
coincidences, they are pregnant with important 
suggestions. I confess that, in my own prac- 
tice, I have never met any cases so significant 8 
Diet in Tumor and Cancer—Cases. 
of the power which diet, simply and heroically 
used, has to reorganize a man. 
“4. Dr. Twitchell’s case becomes interest- 
ing as an evidence of the power of a man to 
subject his body to strict rule. In this epicurean 
age it is quite refreshing to find one who ‘ eats 
to live, and does not live to eat.’ A worthy 
professional brother of this city said, when the 
case was related to him: ‘ It might certainly 
be a question whether life were desirable under 
such a regimen.’ I honor a hero wherever I 
find him; and the heroism of Dr. Twitchell in 
undertaking and pursuing this course, merely 
in consequence of a theory, excites in me the 
greatest delight. In this skeptical, unbeliev- 
ing era, I delight to see any one having 
faith. 
“ Whether the theory was correct or not, it 
matters little; the fixed will of its follower 
arouses my enthusiasm ; and this brings me to 
another topic of interest. 
“5. The theory which governed Dr. 
Twitchell—was it correct? I confess that I am 
unable to solve the question; I merely suggest 
it. Some, whom I consider as our ablest chem- 
ists, think it was by the process of starvation, 
as described by Liebig, that the cure was 
wrought. It seems to me that this cannot be 
the true explanation, for Dr. Twitchell has 
always been stout; and it will be remembered 
that at one time he actually gained flesh under 
the diet.” 
Case XVI. Cancer; Diet of Bread; In- 
fusion of 11 Water-Dock" ; Cure. 
“Dr. W. H. Thayer, in a letter to me, 
says:— 
“ ‘ I have obtained from Dr. Twitchell all 
the particulars of the case of treatment of osteo- 
sarcoma which he could give me; and, as his 
memory is so accurate, I suppose he has not 
forgotten anything of importance connected 
with it. You know the doctor never takes 
notes. 
“ ‘ A man about 40 years of age consulted 
Dr. Twitchell in relation to a tumor on his 
scapula, as large as a pint bowl. It was evi- 
dently osteosarcoma, had its usual crackling 
feel, and resembled very closely one in the 
same position which Dr. Twitchell had seen a 
short time previously, and for which he had 
removed the whole upper extremity, even 
scapula and clavicle. In that case the wound 
healed, but the man died a year or two after- 
ward with carcinoma of some internal organ. 
When the second case applied for advice, Dr. 
Twitched declined an operation, and the man 
returned home to Vermont. Soon afterward 
he heard of somebody in New York who could 
cure him, and, applying to this person for ad- 
vice, received the following:— 
“ ‘ He was to take from the brook which 
ran through his native farm a plant which grew 
there (the adviser did not say what it would 
be), and use a weak infusion of it for his only 
drink every day until the tumor had disap- 
peared. His diet, besides this, was to consist 
of bread alone. This advice was strictly fol- 
lowed ; the plant he used was “water-dock.” 
Dr. Twitched happened to see the man two 
years afterward, when he was still following 
this course. He found the tumor had nearly 
disappeared, there being apparently only a 
trifling thickening of the skin.’ 
“These two histories must be deeply inter- 
esting to all. Presenting, as they do, the evi- 
dence of the powerful influences of diet upon 
the well-being of man, they are of great im- 
portance. I should not wish, however, to 
make the inference which some may be dis- 
posed to draw, that they prove the propriety of 
an almost strictly vegetable diet for all. They 
simply suggest that a long-continued mild and 
spare diet may cure when other remedies are 
of no avail. I am likewise well aware that, 
under the modern revelations given by the 
microscope in regard to the nature of tumors, 
some may doubt as to the malignant character 
of Dr. Twitchell’s disease. Whether it be 
malignant or not, I am satisfied of the truth of 
of the following proposition. Dr. Twitchell 
had a disease thought to be of a malignant 
character by the most eminent of the profes- 
sion, one of whom had once extirpated it; it 
had continued to augment for eight years, in 
spite of local treatment; and, finally, under a 
strict diet it began to lessen in severity, and, 
after a gradual improvement for a year, was 
wholly cured.” 
Dr. Bowditch writes that his practice has not 
embraced like experiences. Ours has. We 
have met with like fortitude and heroism in 
diet, and cannot call this age entirely epi- 
curean. 
It should be said in passing that the follow- 
ing cases were treated with the intention to 
combat the disease on grounds to be stated 
further on:— Diet in Tumor and Cancer—Cases. 
9 
Case XVII. E. Cutter, Attendant. Cancer 
of Calvarium, Heart, and Liver; not 
treated by these plans ; Death. 
Near Boston resides a middle-aged widow, 
several members of whose family died of cancer. 
One of them was a maternal uncle whom the 
writer attended in his last sickness, and made 
the autopsy. White, hard, distinct, globar 
collections of heterologous growths were found 
in the substance of the walls of the left ven- 
tricle of the heart, of the parenchyma of the 
liver, and of the top of the skull. Before 
death he used to say that he had horns growing 
out of his head. Spheroidal protuberances 
were found in the hair just above the forehead, 
one on each side, and one or two more back 
of them. At first they were thought to be 
atheromatous tumors, but their fixedness 
and rigid immobility, while the scalp moved 
over them, dissipated this idea. They cer- 
tainly appeared, as the man said, like the 
budding horns of a calf. A careful dissection 
after death showed the growths to be white, 
shiny, hard, spherical tumors (scirrhus), 
three-fourths of an inch in diameter, resting 
on the dura mater. After scooping them out, 
there appeared well-defined, circular, clean- 
cut holes, passing through the outer table, the 
intertabular substance and the inner table 
of the cranium, as if they had been cut with a 
trephine. 
Case XVIII. E. Cutter, Attendant. Can- 
cer of Womb; Diet of Animal Food, 
Tea and Coffee; Cure. 
Mrs. B., the niece of this case, had been 
separated for nine years from her husband by 
her parents, as he was an idler and would not 
support his family. His wife loved him, and 
this forced parting greatly depressed her mind. 
Besides, she had retroversion of the uterus. 
The posterior insertion of the vagina on to the 
uterus was the highest up of any case known to 
the writer, to wit, at or near the fundus. In 
1876, Mrs. B. was worse. She was laboring 
under great mental depression from hearing 
that her husband was a great sufferer in Colo- 
rado. On vaginal examination, several hard, 
round tumors, somewhat matted together, were 
found behind the uterus. Similar, but smaller, 
growths were found in the enlarged cervix 
uteri. There were some unhealthy vaginal 
discharges, but they were not bloody. There 
was some pain, but not excruciating. The 
countenance had a cachectic look. There 
was great nervous prostration. Little ema- 
ciation. The Cutter retroversion pessary, 
which she had worn, could not be borne. 
Her treatment consisted of gentle laxatives, 
of tonics, as iron and quinine, and of a 
food of carefully-selected beefsteak varied 
with other animal food. Vegetable food was 
excluded, save tea and coffee. This course 
she faithfully carried dut, over six months after 
her husband’s death, with these results: The 
suspicious growths disappeared; she was able 
to wear her retroversion pessary, and at the 
present time she is living in the enjoyment of 
her usual health, with no re-appearance of the 
growths. 
I am quite ready to have a doubt thrown on 
my diagnosis, because of the recovery, and I 
will not say I could not be mistaken; but had 
the lady died, no one would have doubted. 
Perhaps our nosologies are at fault. Perhaps, 
also, my medical education is at fault; but if 
an average medical student faithfully avails 
himself of a four years’ pupilage in regularly 
chartered medical colleges, it is a hard case 
indeed for his instructors if they could not 
teach him how to diagnosticate a case of cancer 
of the womb. 
Case XIX. E. Cutter, Attendant. Can- 
cer of Womb; Diet of Animal Food; 
Opium Stopped; Iodoform Locally; 
Tonics and Sponge Baths of Ammonia ; 
Great Improvement. Discontinuance of 
Treat7nent; Opium Resumed; Death. 
Mrs. F., aged about 50 years, resided in 
Louisiana. In the summer she applied to me 
for what had been diagnosticated as ‘‘cancer 
of the uterus” by her local physician and by 
an eminent medical authority living in New 
Orleans. Neither gave her hope from any 
treatment, and she was taking opium for the 
relief of her pains. Physique good, though 
there were bloody vaginal discharges, attended 
with pains more or less severe. Intervals of 
no pain sometimes occurred. Appetite good. 
Found the uterine cavity normal in depth, 
but dense. The cervix was enlarged later- 
ally even to the side of the pelvis; ragged, 
rough, dog-bitten, and bleeding; not stony 
in feel, but rather punky to the touch. Just 
before this trouble came, one year previous, 
she was a subject of intense and unrelievable 
domestic mental difficulty on account of the 
actions of a relative, which shattered her nerves 
and made her almost distracted. 10 
Diet in Timor and Cancer—Cases. 
She was put on an exclusive animal-food diet, 
varying from one article to another, as directed, 
one after the other, but eating mostly beef un- 
chopped. Twice or thrice weekly the cervix 
uteri was literally buried in powdered iodo- 
form, which was retained by absorbent cotton 
in the vagina. Some simple tonics, sponge 
baths of ammonia, visiting in different New 
England health resorts, and quinine and iron 
were prescribed. The use of opium was 
stopped. The effect of the treatment was like 
magic. The pains, the bloody flow, and the 
discharges ceased at once. The cervix showed 
less redness, thickening, and angriness of look. 
In the course of three months the ulcerative 
appearances had nearly disappeared. She 
thought herself cured enough to return home 
and to manage her case herself. Certainly 
the situation, so far as signs, symptoms, and 
feeling were concerned, coincided with her 
opinion, but not with mine. Against my best 
judgment she left. She was most strictly 
enjoined to continue baths and diet and have 
her physician apply the iodoform if there 
was any re-appearance of the disease. But 
these instructions were disregarded, and soon 
after her return home she grew worse, re- 
sumed the opiates for the annulling of pain, 
and after nine months died of cancer of the 
uterus. 
Had this case recovered, I suppose it would 
have upset the diagnosis in the minds of some. 
Still, it is valuable, by showing what diet, with 
judicious treatment, can do in the arrest of the 
progress of a well-authenticated case. 
It shows, also, the necessity of keeping one’s 
hold of a patient till thoroughly cured. Those 
who advocate “evolution of savages by degre- 
dation” can find many arguments for their 
position in the facts of the practice of medi- 
cine. It is easier for medical cases to run to 
“devolution” than to “evolution.” 
Case XX. E. Cutter, Attendant. Cancer 
of Carpal Bones and Adjacent Tissues, 
with Axillary Complications. Diet of 
Unchopped Beef, Tea, and Coffee. Am- 
putation at Middle Third of Forearm. 
Disease in Axilla Quiescent. 1891. 
In June, 1882, I saw at Vineland, N. J., for 
the first time, Mr. E. B. Osgood. He was 
suffering from a trouble in the palm and back 
of his right hand, which, in his occupation as 
shoe-cutter, he used all the time, and more 
than the left hand. Family have no taint of 
cancer. His hand had troubled him for 
thirteen months, and was much swollen and 
open on the dorsal surface. A probe intro- 
duced through the openings showed the carpal 
bones necrosed. On the under surface of the 
wrist was a curious volcanic-looking swelling, 
with an opening at the apex. It was about 
one inch and a half in diameter and one inch 
high. It almost touched the palm. It was 
boggy in feel and discharged pus. Did not 
look like a boil, but was malignant in appear- 
ance. There were in the right axilla several 
enlarged, stony, lymphatic glands, more or less 
fixed, some of which had fistulous openings 
and were discharging a curious flow, which, 
under the microscope, presented such varied 
and heterologous histological elements that I 
could not but call it cancerous. The patient 
was put on a diet of unchopped beef, with tea 
and coffee, until the condition of the general 
health was improved. The forearm was am- 
putated at the middle third by Dr. Ingram and 
another. A good recovery was made, and he 
has continued more or less strictly on the re- 
stricted diet ever since, and is now at present 
in the enjoyment of a state of health which 
seemed impossible before. In fact, he is called 
well. 
The local surgical attendants of Mr. Osgood 
regarded his case as hopeless, and publicly re- 
ported it as cancer. This I have from reliable 
testimony, independent of Mr. Osgood. 
Case XXI. E. Cutter, Attendant. Cancer 
of Womb. Diet of Beef-Essence. Great 
Improvement ami Arrest of Disease~ 
Discontinuance of Treatment. Death. 
In 1880, Mrs. C., of Boston, wife of an ad- 
vertising physician, came under my observation 
as a case of cancer of the womb, thus diag- 
nosticated by eminent medical authority. It 
appeared to me a case of uterine fibroid, can- 
cerously degenerated. She was about 35 years 
of age, childless, slender build, graceful form, 
and what was termed a “ beauty.” 
Her disease had lasted for about two years, if 
I remember correctly. She had great pain in 
the pelvis, profuse bloody vaginal discharges, 
great nervous prostration, some emaciation,, 
still a resolute will, and could control her ap- 
petite for food partly. She was able to go out 
a little, but with difficulty. She had an aver- 
sion to beefsteak and roast beef. Hence she 
was put on beef-essence, made by putting lean 
beefsteak (freed from bone and cartilage and Diet in Tumor and Cancer—Cases. 
11 
cut into cubes of about one inch) into a closed 
vessel (a common pint tin pail). This was set 
into a bath of cold water (a common tea- 
kettle), heated to boiling and kept boiling for 
two hours at least. The juice or essence of the 
meat was then squeezed out by placing it in 
the centre of a linen towel, gathering the four 
corners of the towel together and twisting the 
folded cloth on to the meat. No water or other 
fluid was added to the beef; so that the result 
was simply the concentrated juice. 
As the case was urgent, the beef-essence was 
pushed so that she took on some days the juice 
of ten pounds of beef. One result of this was 
diarrhoea of a profuse but painless character. 
It is well, in passing, to note that beef-essence 
in large quantities is a cathartic. Where the 
patient is feeble, I think this a good medicine 
for obstinate constipation, as the patient is not 
weakened thereby. Mrs. C. made a rapid im- 
provement. The haemorrhagic vaginal dis- 
charges ceased. She gained in flesh, strength, 
color, and looks. The pains were abated, the 
local disease arrested, and she rode consider- 
ably. But somehow a friction in management 
arose in which her husband came to the front 
and took charge of the case. The abandon- 
ment of the beef diet was followed by a return of 
all bad symptoms, and in the course of a few 
weeks she died of the cancerous disease. 
Had this patient continued, I should have 
tried to have her go on to eat solid beef pre- 
pared with a chopper. 
Though this is an unfavorable case, still it 
shows what full feeding on beef will do some- 
times in a case undoubtedly cancerous. 
Case XXII. E. Cutter, Attendant. Cancer 
of Womb. Diet of Beef, Tea, Coffee, 
and Milk. Cure. 
Mrs. C., of Somerville, Mass., was a sister of 
Case XXI. Soon after the death of her sister, 
Mrs. C. applied for examination to see if she 
had the same trouble. 
Her mental condition was bad, circumstances 
limited, and countenance cachectic. 
There was some vaginal discharge, not 
bloody, and also some pain in the uterus. 
These things made her apprehensive and 
anxious. An exploration of the vagina showed 
knobbed enlargements of the os and cervix 
uteri, dense and stony, not ulcerated. The 
trouble was confined to the neck of the womb. 
She was put on an exclusively animal-food 
diet, adding tea, coffee, and milk. 
She was faithful to the extreme, perhaps 
because she knew the situation perfectly. The 
result was that the diseased appearances de- 
parted, and she is at the present time looking 
and feeling well. 
January, 1891, apparent return of disease, 
but in stomach; womb normal. July, 1891, 
reported as quite well after going back to old 
diet. The local physician had diagnosticated 
cancer. 
Case XXIII. E. and J. A. Cutter, Attend- 
ants. Cancer of Breast. Uterine Dis- 
ease and Consumption of Bowels. 
Madame —, aged 65, occupation gentle- 
woman. Came under our care February, 
1889. Had a small growth in left breast, 
uterine hypersesthesia and displacement, and 
chronic diarrhoea; also a sessile cancerous 
tumor in right chest-wall above breast, and one 
in right popliteal space, both of which were 
removed by galvano-caustic at the outset of 
treatment by Cutter electrode and battery. 
She was carefully treated for her uterine trouble 
with iodoform in capsules and vector, and 
has worn at two different times a Cutter stem- 
pessary for nearly two years. The condition 
of the bowels is much improved. Disease of left 
breast reduced; though slightly increased July, 
1891. Axillary glands on same side no longer 
swelled. While this case wishes that the growth 
was gone, yet she is satisfied that it is reduced, 
instead of increasing. No return of disease 
in right popliteal space and right chest. 
Case XXIV. E. and J. A. Cutter, Attend- 
ants. Tumor and Cancer. Death. 
Madame —, aged 65. January, 1889, the 
senior writer found her sick in bed with peri- 
tonitis, and her relatives waiting for her to die. 
On the subsidence of the inflammation it was 
found that she had growths in the abdominal 
cavity which were large, involving the womb, 
hard and soft, evidently fibro-cystic. They 
extended to above the navel. She went on to 
systemic plans of diet, with the result of im- 
provement so that she could go to New York, 
and was “going to get well.” Still, the case 
looked ominous, and the possibility of cancer 
was suggested. 
In May she became somewhat straitened in 
funds and stopped doctoring, but followed up 
the plans. This was a mistake, for in the fall 
we found that she was anxious to be treated, 
but feared to incur a bill. The case was, how- 
ever, looked after. In the spring of 1890 it 12 
Diet in Tumor and Cancer—Cases. 
was decided to apply galvanism by profound 
abdominal puncture. This was done twice 
under anaesthesia. The result was the dimi- 
nution and softening to a large extent of the 
growths in the lower part of the abdomen. But 
the stringency in her money matters did not 
abate; she became greatly worried, indeed was 
pushed for ready money for the very necessaries 
of life; her appetite weakened; she complained 
more of stomach and gradually wasted. Died 
in October, 1890. 
A hurried post-mortem was made by the 
junior writer, assisted only by a layman. The 
disease in lower part of abdominal cavity was 
about gone. The intestines were matted by 
inflammatory products. In the left side was 
found a hard mass, which was imbedded in 
the muscles and encroached upon the stomach. 
A section placed under the microscope showed 
it to be epithelioma. 
It was later ascertained that she had broken 
two ribs a number of years ago, and that more 
than ten years ago she had consulted a surgeon 
in Philadelphia for advice. 
The history of this case makes us think that 
if she had been well supplied with money 
the disease in the side would have kept in 
abeyance, for she was a woman of remarkable 
fortitude and strength of mind. 
Case XXV. E. and J. A. Cutter, Attend- 
ants. Cancer of Breast. Cure. 
A woman, aged 64, living in Los Angeles, 
Cal., consulted us by letter over a year ago, 
stating that she had had a growth in her breast 
that her physician, a regularly educated and 
graduated practitioner, diagnosticated as cancer. 
She then fell into the hands of some one who 
took her cancer out by pastes, leaving an open 
sore, “as large as an orange,” that would not 
heal. 
Under systemic plans of diet and medica- 
tion, followed up by examinations of urine 
and faeces sent by mail, this case so improved 
that the trouble in her breast healed. 
On May, 1891, the patient was examined 
at our sanitarium to see what was the cause 
of a vaginal discharge. It was found that 
her pelvis was packed with a hard fibroid. 
The breast had healed in a beautiful white 
cicatrix. 
Now, this case may not have been cancer; 
but trouble of that kind in the breast, at her 
age, is usually seriously regarded. 
Case XXVI. E. Cutter, Physician. Can- 
cer of Womb. Diet of Chopped Beef * 
and Hot Water. Mild Systemic Tonics. 
Iodoform and Carbolic Acid Locally. 
Cure. 
In January, 1882, Miss W., a middle-aged 
clerk, was discharged from a hospital in one of 
our large cities to die of malignant disease of 
the uterus. The gentleman of the staff who 
discharged her has given a diagnosis confirm- 
ing the above statement. Prof. R. J. Nunn, 
M.D., ex-President of the Medical Society of 
the State of Georgia, at my request, examined 
her subsequently, and confirmed the diagnosis. 
I mention these things because I treated her 
without seeing her She suffered with profuse 
vaginal discharges, which were sometimes 
bloody and always offensive, until the use of 
iodoform removed the fcetor. The uterus was 
enlarged, the cervix stony, with considerable 
ulceration and excavation. She was conscious 
of her situation, and understood the diagnosis. 
Although placed in unfavorable circumstances, 
and devoid of her family’s sympathy in the 
undertaking, with a heroism worthy of Dr. 
Twitched, she went on to a diet of chopped 
beef (cooked) and hot water. Systemic tonics 
of a mild character were administered. Iodo- 
form and carbolic acid were used locally. Mor- 
phological examinations of the urine, faeces, 
and vaginal discharges, once or twice a week, 
furnished me the means of keeping her up 
strictly to the plans. She remained on treat- 
ment over a year. From time to time other 
patients of mine told me of the marked im- 
provement in her case. They said her general 
appearance was so much bettered they hardly 
knew her. From being confined to her bed, 
she became well enough to attend church and 
go out to walk daily. 
In the summer of 1884, she visited me at 
my office in New York, and I saw her for the 
first time. Her appearance was that of perfect 
health, and she claimed to be in that con- 
dition. However, on examination, I found 
the uterus enlarged—about the size of a child’s 
head. There was no ulceration or discharge, 
and I thought that if she was able to carry this 
enlarged uterus without any trouble I ought to 
be satisfied with the results. 
1887, January 3.—Examined at office. I 
found by bimanual examination no enlargement 
of uterus. Os uteri normal, or nearly so. 
* We never prescribe beef raw, whether chopped or not. Diet in Tumor and Cancer—Cases. 
13 
Some vaginal discharge. Appearance that of 
perfect health. Patient still alive in June, 1891. 
Is a clerk. 
Case XXVII. E. Cutter, Attendant. Can- 
cer of the Uterus, with Serious Heart 
Complications. Fed Against the Appe- 
tite with Tenderloin Steak, Broiled. 
Result: Cure of Uterine and Cardiac 
Lesions.* 
Some years ago a middle-aged mother of 
a large family lay sick in bed of great grief at 
the loss of her last daughter, who died under 
peculiar circumstances, f There were present 
cardiac hypertrophy and insufficiency of the 
left auriculo-ventricular valve; severe attacks 
of angina pectoris, when it seemed that death 
was near. 
The objective lesions, other than those 
named, were retroversion, engorgement, hard- 
ening, eversion of the os uteri, and behind the 
uterus four small, hard, marble-like tumors: 
very severe pain, sharp and stinging, in the 
pelvis mostly; profuse vaginal discharge, not 
bloody; menorrhagia. Added to this there 
was loss of appetite so complete that everything 
in the nature of food was loathed, even milk 
being repulsive; loss of flesh and strength, 
being unable to rise erect for ninety days; in- 
ability to lie on either side for most of the same 
time; nausea; legs cold and sweaty up to the 
knees; ofttimes great stomach distress, with 
wind colic; urine high colored and of rank 
smell, as if putrid; bowels constipated; a ter- 
rible feeling of nervous restlessness, causing her 
to move her feet rapidly up and down in the 
bed; visitors coming and assuring her by their 
looks and actions that she was about to die. 
Added to this there was cancer in her family, 
her father having died of cancer of the stomach 
and a maternal grandmother of cancer of the 
breast. She was put on general and local treat- 
ment, and it was faithfully carried out in con- 
nection with good nursing; but she gradually 
grew worse, until at the expiration of three 
months the symptoms were so alarming that I 
was obliged to take strong and decisive grounds, 
and to tell her: “You must eat, or die of can- 
cer of the womb. Make up your mind to one 
or the other.” She decided to live and eat, 
eating against her appetite, but with her intel- 
lect and reason and the advice of her medical 
attendant. She began with tenderloin steak, 
broiled and cut up very fine. The most she 
could take at first was a quantity represented 
by two teaspoonfuls; this she swallowed by a 
desperate effort, her stomach rising against it. 
She was fed thus every four hours. Even after 
she had fed thus for weeks she felt she would 
rather die almost than eat, but battled against 
appetite by sheer force of will. The only way 
she could get down the beef was by swallowing 
one mouthful of lager beer, which was the only 
article that did not go against the stomach. 
The quantity of meat was increased gradually, 
and she was fed two months against her appe- 
tite. The nausea, however, left in about three 
or four weeks, and at this time she was able to 
move some, and was placed in a Cutter invalid 
chair part of the day. After two months of 
feeding, she was taken carefully to the seashore, 
and there she began to get an appetite, but it 
took one year before she could walk five 
hundred feet. 
Visited Europe 1889 and 1890, and stood 
the excitement and fatigue of the great Berlin 
Congress well. Is the joy and delight of her 
husband and family, and a living argument 
that cannot be ignored. 
No person could have eaten so thoroughly 
against the appetite as this case did, and it was 
only from fear of death by cancer, whereof her 
father died, that made her struggle for life with 
all her powers. It was not death she feared, but 
the form, from which she revolted with horror. 
This is rather difficult to understand, but it is 
none the less true. 
Results.—1. Heart normal in size. 
2. Valvular insufficiency hardly perceivable. 
3. Angina pectoris gone. 
4. Uterine disease relieved, tumors disap- 
peared, uterus mobile, discharges normal. 
5. Urine clear as champagne, 1015 to 1020 
specific gravity; no odor; no deposit on 
cooling. 
6. Restoration to active duties in her 
position as housekeeper and mother of the 
family. 
No medicine was given after the food treat- 
ment, save Hoffman’s anodyne when she had 
palpitation of the heart and suffocation of 
breath; the severe, agonizing pain left soon 
after the diet was begun. 
This case is the wife of senior writer, alive 
and well July, 1891. 
* See Case III, “ Feeding Patients Against the Appetite,” 
Medical Register Philadelphia, April 2 and 9, 1887. 
f This daughter died after a few days’ illness, from the results 
of the perforation of the appendix caeci by an orange-seed. 14 
Cancer a Disease of Mal-nutrition. 
WHAT IS CANCER? 
THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS. 
Cancer means “ Crab," and is, in our 
opinion, tissue under malignant mob law, 
mai?ily due to defective nutrition. 
Here it will be proper to show the reasons 
why cancer is called a disease of nutrition, as 
this is a vital point in our argument, and then 
we shall point out the ways in which it may be 
possible for food to modify cancerous condition. 
Reason I. Cancer, except in its last stages, 
is not a disease of the blood, so far as the 
writer can learn by morphological blood ex- 
aminations for many years. We are quite will- 
ing to receive correction in this respect by any 
competent observer. Beale has taught that 
cancer is bioplasm with a diseased impress; 
that is, the blood element has a taint which 
manifests itself when it has a chance. It is 
latent till the conditions of development arise; 
till then the germs, so to speak, do not exist. 
This is his explanation of the hereditary taint. 
In our present status of knowledge, Beale’s view 
must be accepted till a better is presented. 
But our point is that, as cancer is not found 
in the blood, we must look for it in the solid 
tissues, which are generally found in rank, 
lawless development; in weak organizations 
with no powers of resistance like healthy tissue, 
the histological elements being out of normal 
place. This being so, then we may look for 
analogues in other kingdoms where tissue ab- 
normal changes occur in organisms that can be 
studied, or have been studied, by man for ages; 
that is, the vegetable kingdom. 
If a farmer undertakes to raise potatoes with- 
out manure, the crop is liable to be stunted, 
diseased with parasites, tumors and soggy 
structures, and no one wonders. Other things 
being equal, the result is by thoughtful minds 
attributed to want of proper soluble mineral 
food, and the researches of scientists bear out 
this popular view; so that it may be said, in 
general terms, if one wants to produce diseases 
that are analogous to what we call cancer in the 
animal kingdom, it is only necessary to inter- 
fere with this natural condition of growth, of 
which food is the most important element, as 
without food the plant could not grow at all. 
For more ideas in this direction, see the ad- 
mirable series of volumes by Prof. S. W. John- 
son, of the Connecticut Agricultural Station, 
“How Crops Grow,” etc., published by 
Orange Judd & Co., New York. 
Reason 2. Cancer is thought to be a. disease 
of nutrition from the variety and multiplicity 
of its macroscopical appearances. My father, 
Dr. Benjamin Cutter, once had a patient, a 
young man of thirty years of age, who died of 
an obscure disease, the real nature of which 
was proved by a post-mortem examination to 
be cancerous. The writer was the only one 
who suggested such a diagnosis, from the pres- 
ence of some hard kernels in one testicle. 
Being nothing but a medical student, his 
opinion could not have had much weight. To 
be brief, the abdominal and thoracic cavities 
contained over a hundred cancerous tumors 
and conditions, of several colors and forms. 
Some of them were in contact with the peri- 
toneum, red as a lobster, with flattened, cre- 
nated edges, one and a half to two inches in 
diameter, free and unattached, like chips care- 
lessly thrown in. Saddling the lumbar verte- 
brae was a large liver-like tumor that weighed 
several pounds. It was in organic connection 
with the bodies of the vertebrae, which, re- 
moved and sawn into, disclosed the disease 
inside of the bones by the black, burnt color 
of the spongy structure and its diminished 
trabeculae. The liver had its convex surface 
nearly all occupied with a large, thin, trans- 
parent sac filled with a hyaline, blue-colored 
liquid, whose morphological elements were 
made up of caudate, mother and hyaline cells 
resembling cartilage cells in perfection. Over 
the lungs were found very numerous free and 
variously colored cancerous growths. Some 
were found in the lungs and heart. The 
nodules in the testicle were also cancerous. In 
short, there was hardly an organ or tissue that 
was not profoundly invaded by the diseased 
condition. 
Though this, to the writer, was an unparal- 
leled case and the relation is toned down, still 
it practically exhibits in one instance how 
cancer may riot with all tissues. 
The man suffered untold agonies of body, 
and the general opinion of the physicians 
present was that this remarkable condition of 
organic disease was induced by habits of dis- 
sipation, wrong feeding, and bad modes of 
life. It is quite certain the professional gentle- 
men would not deny that cancer in the case 
was a disease of nutrition, though the family 
was wealthy and were good livers, so-called. Disease of Mal-nutrition—Cure of Malignant Disease 
15 
Reason 3. Cancer is regarded as a disease of 
mal-nutrition because fibroids and solid tumors 
do cancerously degenerate. One case of the 
writer was a large, multilocular, sub-peritoneal, 
abdominal and pelvic fibroid that was carried 
for thirteen years, the subject maintaining her 
place as mother of a large family for this length 
of time. In early spring she moved into a 
house that had been unoccupied all winter, 
and stood in a low, marshy place. She took 
cold, was overworked, and never properly fed, 
and her disease changed its character. She then 
went to a hospital, and was nightly subjected to 
vaginal douches of hot water, which, she said, 
always scalded and made her worse. At my 
visit she had returned home, being given up to 
die, as the disease had involved the body and 
neck of both bladder and womb and all the 
fibroids. 
It is clear that when such growths put on 
malignancy it must be from some modification 
of the nutrition, and in the case given may 
have been somewhat as follows: The patient 
had had just about vitality enough to carry her 
fibroids, but when the extra demands on her 
nutrition were added by the domestic exigencies 
referred to, then the tissues of the fibroid ran 
riot into cancer. She attributed the rapid in- 
crease of the disease to the depressing influences 
of the hot water. 
Reason 4. Cancer and other organic disease 
is more prevalent among those who are ill-fed, 
improperly fed and abused by themselves or 
others. For example, the writer has known a 
case of cancer of the stomach, when it was evi- 
dently caused by living in the suburbs and 
having business in the city, taking a light lunch 
there and returning late in the day, all tired 
out and having a hearty supper with much 
condiments. 
A case of fungous haematoids, involving the 
left shoulder-joint, and finally attaining a 
diameter of at least one foot, occurred in the 
practice of the writer’s father many years ago. 
It was an awful sight, with its livid volcanic- 
like protuberances. Indeed, it made up the 
larger moiety of the boy’s body at his death. 
Now, this patient was ten or twelve years old, 
an orphan, obliged to pick up a precarious 
living by setting up nine pins in a bowling 
alley. For some real or fancied neglect of 
duty he was beaten with a nine-pin. He soon 
after developed the disease, and ran away from 
the city into the suburbs on a railroad track, 
being found disabled on the track, and was 
cared for by the town authorities as a pauper. 
This terrible case of cancer was made possible 
by ill-nutrition in poverty and orphanage. 
Wealth, however, does not necessarily give 
good diet. 
It is almost useless to enlarge on the idea 
that defective alimentation is a predisposing 
cause of cancer, nor is it worth while to adduce 
more reasons in favor of the view that the various 
diseased conditions called cancer are tissue dis- 
eases of nutrition, though it may not always be 
possible to trace the connection clearly. The 
warp and woof of disease embrace many dif- 
ferent causes, all very much mixed. Indeed, 
it is so with most everything, even an appar- 
ently trivial event. So, when the multiplicity 
of causes, functions, operations, forces, factors, 
and conditions that combine to produce what 
we call life in the human system are taken 
into account, it is not to be wondered that the 
etiology of disease is a very difficult subject, 
and all reasoning about it is liable to doubt. 
Still, as tnere are salient features in landscape 
scenery by which we identify localities, so in 
the disease under consideration, mal-nutrition, 
however caused, is a great predisposing moun- 
tain or landmark of identification. 
Malignancy.—The return after removal and 
the tendency to a fatal issue form the idea of 
malignancy which the profession and public 
attach to cancer. 
And the real issue in the present writing is 
—can a malignant disease that has shown its 
character by recurrence be arrested and dissi- 
pated? Yes; and Dr. Twitchell’s case proves 
it. But, says my reader, it is only one case. 
True; but it is positive, and, so far as one 
case goes, it shows the possibility of a so- 
called malignant disease being not malignant, 
and thus we are set face to face with the dic- 
tionary and our landmarks of knowledge. But 
are our ideas to be measured by opinions or by 
facts ? Language is not fact. It is, or should 
be, an account of facts, which are eternal, 
while language changes in form, words and 
spelling, so that in six hundred years one can 
hardly realize that our language is English. 
Again, as the world moves on, things that are 
declared to be impossible by foremost scientific 
and learned men have become facts almost 
while they are speaking. A notable instance 
of this occurred in 1858, when a learned so- 
ciety in London awarded a gold medal to a 16 
Ethics of Impossibilities—Tissue Molecular Changes. 
savant who read an essay on the absolute im- 
possibility of laying an Atlantic Ocean tele- 
graph cable, but the cable was laid before the 
medal could be put into the hands of the sci- 
entist, and has been, with others, a great ac- 
complished fact in our modern civilization for 
over one-fourth of a century. Wonder if the 
savant got his gold medal ? It so, I don’t think 
that he makes much show of it. So, also, of 
Faraday and his celebrated utterance as to the 
absolute impossibility of ocean steam navi- 
gation. 
These are not adduced to show that all new 
things are possibilities, but that some are, and 
people should be cautious not to take positions 
as to impossibilities unless they are well ac- 
quainted with the facts in the case. You say 
that there is but one case like Dr. Twitchell’s, 
but this is not the same thing as saying that 
there are none such. 
The fact is, there is but little encouragement 
to report such cases as things now are. Few 
have the courage of a Bowditch to speak out 
the truth when it must disturb settled con- 
victions and established opinions. And who 
is there that knows but that other cases, 
faithfully carried out like Dr. Twitchell’s, 
might not have been cured ? As, if one case 
has been cured, it is possible more may be. 
(The cases here are very respectfully presented 
to the consideration of the profession.) Just 
here is the rub. Few have the energy of char- 
acter to act up to their convictions and carry 
out a plan that rides across the usages of 
society, the appetites and the deranged desires 
of a sick and diseased body. It is training 
for health against disease. There is also 
paralysis and indifference to the fact of a great 
impending catastrophe, though the condition 
of mind may be just the opposite. Writes a 
patient:— 
“ Cancer is the worst word in the world 
to me. No one could have failed faster 
than I did for two weeks after what Dr. M. 
said to me. . . . You, who are so strong 
and sensible may think me silly in this, and we 
will let it go that I am.” 
It now remains to point out the bearings of 
food upon cancer. If cancer is a disease of 
nutrition, why is it not the most sensible way 
to attack it through the food ? 
Starting out with the proposition that if any 
animal gets its normal food and is situated amid 
circumstances favorable to life, then the animal 
will be healthy (this is from the same root as 
hale, whole, holy, holiness); that an individual 
that is whole, symmetrically developed and 
acting, the tissues normal, the organs perfect, 
that individual will be healthy. 
This is understood by man as applicable to 
other animals than himself. Hostlers know 
how to bring up a horse to health by giving 
him healthy feeding. Dairymen know how to 
feed their kine; trainers their pugilists, walk- 
ists, boat-racers, etc. All seek to get the sys- 
tems of the animals in their charge in splendid 
condition, and then the diseased condition 
will leave as the “carpet baggers” did when 
government was established in the South. This 
is so important a principle that we restate it: 
When the human system has its skin, liver, pan- 
creas, kidneys, and digestive canal all in splen- 
did order, the vis mediatrix natures of the older 
writers will set the diseased conditions, of any 
kind, right. By disease we mean morbid 
changes of organic structure, though in a broad 
sense it includes sickness as well. But sickness 
is rather a functional disorder or derangement 
than one where organic morbid changes are 
such as are found in chronic disease. 
The expression in the Gospel, “He healed 
all manner of sickness and all manner of dis- 
ease,” is very explicit. 
Now, both are sort of physiological mobs. 
And, if you look at cancer as tissue run riot in 
a mob, it is to be quelled as mobs politic are 
by law and order. If the riot is too strong for 
the law and order, then down goes the law and 
order. If the cancer riot is too much for the 
physiological law and order, the body systemic 
perishes. 
Suppose one of the organs named is af- 
fected ; if all the others are in splendid order, 
they will do the work of the affected organ, on 
the principle of vicarious function. For ex- 
ample, the skin will do the work, to a great 
extent, of the kidneys, etc. 
Now, the molecular laying down and taking 
up of all the histological elements of the va- 
rious organs and tissues of the body systemic 
are going on all the time. The time, ac- 
cording to the popular ideas, has been esti- 
mated to be seven years in which the whole 
body changes. Dr. Lyonell Playfair has stated 
his belief that in seven months it is changed. 
The writer thinks this estimate is much beyond 
the truth. Be this as it may, seven months is 
enough for our purpose. Food and Disease. 
17 
ABNORMAL TISSUES SUBJECT TO NUTRITION. 
The profession entertains the idea that only 
the normal tissues are subject, and that the ab- 
normal tissues are not subject, to this law of 
molecular nutrition change. This is, to my 
mind, a great error. 
Given good blood, good-working digestive, 
circulating, respirating, and secreting organs, 
if there is a diseased condition, the tendency 
is to remove that condition and establish a 
healthy one in its place. This is seen in 
practice. 
FOOD CURAT1VELY CHANGES TISSUE. 
Admitting this for the nonce, as we should 
get ahead of our subject if we should prove it 
now, we would observe that food is “an agent 
of tremendous power ” in the treatment of 
diseases not cancerous. 
For example, in 1862, a man lay sick in 
Washington with typho-malarial fever, so diag- 
nosticated by good authority. The disease 
was contracted in the Army of the Potomac. 
When the writer found him he was delirious, 
violent, tearing off all his clothing, trying to 
jump out of a third-story window, absolutely 
refusing to take anything in the shape of food 
or medicine. This state of things had lasted 
several days. The prognosis by competent 
medical authority being fatal, the writer was 
left to watch for the inevitable death. But, 
somehow the idea of starved nerve-centres was 
suggested, and with considerable opposition on 
the part of the household (the effort being 
looked on as entirely useless), some beef-essence 
was made by cutting lean beef from the top of 
the round into cubes of half-inch size3 these 
were covered in a closed jar, without addition of 
any water or anything else 3 the jar was set in a 
pot of cold water and the water brought grad- 
ually to a boiling-point and kept so for two 
hours and a half. The juice was then ex- 
pressed through the meshes of a crash-linen 
towel. A coffee-cup full of this was obtained 
at night when men were at hand. Five of them 
held the patient on the bed by main force, one 
at each limb, and one at the head held face 
upward. The writer then forced open the 
mouth and poured in the essence, and held it 
there till it was all swallowed. Then he was 
let go, and, instead of repeating his fierce 
efforts and movements, he lay quietly down 
and slept like a child. At the expiration of 
two hours, more beef-essence was administered 
with the same effect. This proving satisfac- 
tory, the plan was kept up until convalescence 
was established, and in less than fourteen days, 
the writer took his patient to Massachusetts. 
He is now living, an active business man of 
Boston. Some quinine was given after con- 
valescence, but the cure—and there was a cure 
—was effected by the beef-essence and nursing. 
Another case, a daughter of a well-known 
physician in Middlesex County, Mass., aged 
io years, had an attack of what he called 
typhoid fever. He had been a surgeon in the 
army and navy during the rebellion, and there 
is no reason for doubting the accuracy of his 
diagnosis. During convalescence she began 
to fail rapidly. The parents sought advice of 
the writer, saying she would eat nothing but 
beefsteak, and, fearing to give it to her, they 
were at a great loss to know what to do. 
“Give her all she will eat,” was the advice. 
A letter soon came, asking, “How much by 
weight?” “Anything under four pounds,” 
was the reply. She ate freely, and in two or 
or three days was up, dressed, and down stairs, 
and is alive and well to-day. 
During the summer of 1877, the writer was 
in Peabody, Mass., in consultation with a very 
reputable and worthy physician, in relation to 
a case of ovarian tumor. After this he said 
that a middle-aged lady, mother of a family, 
in whom he, for personal reasons had a deep 
interest and did not want to lose her, was very 
low with Bright’s disease, confined to bed, pale 
as the sheet she lay on, vomiting all food, ema- 
ciated, too feeble to raise her head from the 
pillow or lift her hands, urine one-third albu- 
minous, etc. He said, also, there was to be a 
consultation immediately with some physicians 
to act on the dernier ressort of transfusion of 
blood, which her husband was to donate from 
his arm. He asked if I would perform the 
operation, if it was thought advisable. On the 
consultation, the statements were found to be 
true, but there was no apparatus to transfuse 
the blood3 so it was arranged that I should re- 
turn to Boston and come back with it at 10 
a.m., next day. Before I went home I had a 
solitary interview with the lady. I took my 
diet-list, and began with the articles named 
in order, and asked if she could eat them. 
She answered “No” to each until I named 
“tripe.” She said she thought she could eat 
some. “Stop right here,” said 13 “get some 
of the best tripe to be found, broil it and let 18 
Loss of Nerve-Force a Cause. 
her eat all she can or wishes. In case she 
vomits it, let her have some more. Give her 
nothing else.” I went to Boston and returned 
as agreed. At the station the doctor met me 
and said : “There will be no need of perform- 
ing the operation.” I saw his face was smiling, 
so was quite prepared for the favorable report 
that she had eaten tripe, kept it all down, and 
felt so much refreshed that it was needless to go 
on as proposed. She continued to eat tripe. 
In March, 1886, in company with my son, I 
saw this woman. She was apparently well, 
though not able to do much work. Dr. — in- 
formed us that the casts and albumen did not 
disappear from her urine till more than a year 
had elapsed. Her diet till cured was mainly 
tripe. 1891, well at last accounts. 
The writer knows of a case of consumption 
of both lungs and double pleurisy, in 1862, 
given up to die by his father, Dr. B. Cutter (a 
physician who honored his profession for forty 
years), and by himself. This case, after living 
during one winter on a fat hog and nothing 
else, was cured without attendance or medi- 
cine, and a few years since was sent to the 
house of correction for being a hard drinker. 
Died of drunkenness about 1888. 
A physician’s wife, eleven years ago, had a 
fibro-cystic tumor that extended from the 
epigastrium to within one inch of the vulva, 
the vagina being prolapsed. She went on to a 
diet of lean beef alone, and in three months the 
cyst had decreased so as to just protrude above 
the pubis. At last accounts remained cured. 
Another case of fibroid, which had existed 
for fifteen years, under like treatment, com- 
bined with the iodide of potassium (she was 
syphilitic), resulted in the complete disappear- 
ance of the tumor in the course of two months. 
The late Surgeon F. M. Dearborn, U. S. N., 
left Boston once in midwinter on board the 
“Franklin.” They were caught in a snow- 
storm and he had at once 80 men down with 
pneumonitis. He fed them beef freely, and 1 
case only died, though all were severely sick. 
These cases have been adduced only to show 
the power of food in treating other diseases 
than cancer.* 
LOSS OF NERVE FORCE A CAUSE. 
Mental depression is too often an element in 
cancerous cases to be overlooked. There is 
nothing like worry to wear on the nutrition of 
the body. Worried lovers of both sexes, even 
the1 poets rhyme about their loss of flesh. The 
worried men of business, and women, who do 
far more work than most business men (for the 
writer believes that a mother of a large family 
has more demands made on her worrying facul- 
ties than the heads of great mercantile houses), 
grow poor, though poorness of flesh is not an 
infallible sign of worry. Now, sudden, marked 
and decisive loss of flesh from worry shows a 
terrible strain on nutrition. 
As we now understand it, the explanation is 
that it takes so much force to “run” the nerv- 
ous system, under the exhaustive strain of wor- 
riment, that there is none left to “run” the 
tissues, and the waste is not supplied and vital 
force is not given to the local nerve-centres of 
nutrition, and it is but a step or two from tissue 
wasting to the mal-produced tissue of malignant 
and non-malignant diseases. No doubt had 
Case XVIII lived on the animal diet exclu- 
sively she would not have had the mal-nutri- 
tion, for the following reasons: The animal 
diet puts the system in splendid condition, and 
confers strength to bear up under the stress of 
worry, etc. One way in which this is done is 
by saving the forces. It is more work to digest 
vegetable food than animal, and the nerve-force 
saved is no small item. If this is doubted, 
study the effects of baked beans on epileptics 
and bad vegetable food on children or adults. 
It would seem as if the ganglionic nerve-centres 
that preside over digestion in such cases were 
so completely overwhelmed that all the other 
nerve-centres are involved in the loss of force, 
and the epileptics and the colics must be re- 
garded as the result of a job of digestion too 
great to be done; for, change the patients 
over to animal food, properly prepared, and 
the fits and colics cease. Language here seems 
to fail to be adequate for the ideas to be ex- 
pressed. 
This case (XVIII) lived on flour-bread, 
sugar, tea, coffee, some animal food, probably 
about one-sixth of the latter to five-sixths of 
the vegetable food. The flour and sugar being 
largely in excess and both very poor nerve- 
foods, is it a wonder that tissue degeneration 
resulted, as there was a tissue taint ? 
This great element of depression aids much 
♦Cutter, E., M.D.: “Feeding Patients Against the Appe- 
tite,’’ Medical Register, Philadelphia, April 2 and 9, 1887 ; 
“Seventy Cases of Consumption,” Trans. Amer. Med. Assoc., 
j88o, pp. 338-408; " Food as a Medicine in Uterine Fibroids,” 
Amer. Journ. of Obs., October, 1877 ; “ Food as a Medicine in 
Agalaxia,” ibid., April, 1878 ; “ Food as a Pathologic, /Esthetic, 
Chemic, and Physiologic,” Amer. Journ. Den. Scien., Balt., 
January and February, 1880. Best Conditions for Cure. 
19 
in the tissue riot. In patients hope must be 
inspired, faith must be raised, and not only 
must the physician believe, but he must make 
the patient believe. Everything must be hus- 
banded. There must be no force expended on 
anything else but running the system and fight- 
ing the disease. 
THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DISEASE. 
Cancer has them, too. Some types are 
quick and kill almost by a blow, or destroy 
like a hurricane or earthquake, against which 
man is powerless. These admit of nothing 
like possibility of cure. There is not time left 
to save. Like a stroke of lightning, it kills 
resistlessly. But when the disease is slow, the 
circumstances favorable (and this means a great 
deal), and all work together with rigid fidelity, 
why, there is a possibility of doing good work. 
BEST CONDITIONS FOR CURE. 
The best circumstances are a sanitarium de- 
voted to this purpose, where systematic treat- 
ment can be practiced, the food selected care- 
fully, the cooking perfect, and the patients not 
allowed to vary from the plans. Oftentimes 
they begin, run well, and seem to realize the 
situation, and the growth shows a diminution, 
and then they will fall away from the diet, and 
often charge all the results of their backsliding 
to the plans of treatment. It is a great thing 
to manage patients and keep them under con- 
trol. All will allow this, for, if not, no good 
results can be expected to follow. 
Every means should be used, then, to keep 
up the discipline. Frequent communica- 
tions, examinations of the blood, urine, and 
faeces to see if there has been any variation, 
and, when detected, to stimulate the poor, 
weak offender to the narrow, straight path of 
duty again. Lapses must not go unnoticed. 
The patient must be watched with jealous, in- 
terested care. Then, if time enough is taken, 
comes the possibility of cure. But all the 
chances can be lost very easily. A few mouth- 
fuls of wrong food will do essential damage. 
“ Few appreciate how sensitive the system is to 
daily and hourly impressions.” A weak, 
irresolute mind, wavering character, restless 
and peevish disposition, a constant view of the 
dark side—these qualities will not succeed in 
hardly any work. One who gets well by self- 
denial, faith, perseverance, pluck, determina- 
tion, energy, is like the victor on the battle- 
field after a long and tough fight. There is the 
same exhilarating triumph, and after the con- 
flict is over he finds a conversion of appetite. 
Food liked before becomes distasteful, and it 
is very easy to go on in the right mode of 
living, so that, the predisposing cause being 
removed, the disease is vanquished by the 
simple molecular changes of nutrition. Nature 
does the work. Medicines are valuable to 
stimulate the glands, remove engorgements, 
and keep all the organs in good working con- 
dition. This is their place, for medicines do 
not cure of themselves. When a ship’s cargo 
is shifted so that her spars dip into the sea, it is 
re-arranged by the crew, and the ship rights 
itself, and the crew say, “ We have righted the 
ship.” This is certainly so, but nature had a 
great share in the work. The crew simply 
acted in obedience to the laws of gravitation. 
So man cures disease. The medicines, food, 
etc., help nature, and, in accordance with her 
laws, she does the cure. 
IT TAKES TIME. 
Agree to have a possibility of cure of cancer, 
there must be time—one to four years. This 
is a barrier to many. They could go one to 
three months, but not a year, and so throw 
away their chances. 
IT TAKES MEANS. 
Unfortunately, the terrible disease comes to 
the poor and ignorant, and there is no help 
for the words of the preacher, “The destruc- 
tion of the poor is their poverty.” It is a 
costly matter to provide for the sick of this 
class with food, care, nursing, and medical 
attendance. The medical profession give away 
an immense amount of unrequited services, 
but so long as they are not supported by the 
public, they often give away more than they 
can afford to and impoverish themselves. Here 
is a chance for the benevolence of the rich if 
it could be rightly adjusted. Many lives are 
now being saved by the bounty of the rich, 
but many are being lost for the want of aid. It 
would be possible to save more cases than now, 
were more means at command. 
PUBLISHED CLAIMS TO CURE CANCER. 
The papers are full of such claims, and, in 
the present state of the medical profession, it 
is difficult to see how any estimate of them, 
other than bad, can be made, simply from the 
fact that it is very dangerous for any medical 
person in good and regular standing to have 
anything to do with what is called * ‘ quackery. ” 20 
Published Claims to Cure Cancer. 
Still, the people patronize them, and reports of 
cures are rife. 
Now, it is possible that some of these 
cases may be cancer, and may have been 
cured by quacks. History shows that Lazarus 
Riverius was a quack, yet he did much to 
advance medicine. Not long ago one of the 
most eminent surgeons was extolled by a lay- 
man for his wonderful operations on the blad- 
der; yet a swineherd in France is said to have 
introduced the operation for stone, and must 
have been a “quack.” A good many surgeons 
have founded their great reputations on some 
operation of centuries ago. 
The cancer hospitals in New York, in their 
public utterances, claim to cure at least one- 
third of their cases. It would be interesting to 
know what they call cures. Generally, cases 
operated on for cancer die in two years, but 
some of the diet cases of cancer have been 
cured for more than ten years. 
There is said, on good authority, to be in a 
town in central New York a family who treat 
cancers by the use of a paste, the formula of 
which is known only to two members. They 
have made immense fortunes, have large estab- 
lishments, and effect many cures (?). Not 
long ago a distinguished politician of Boston 
had cancer of the leg, and went to this place 
for treatment. It was a bad case, and seemed 
unfit for any treatment, and was dismissed. 
This action was creditable, as there was plenty 
of money in the case. 
Evidently something is to be learned here. 
If we had patronage in this country, as in the 
old, such a patron could organize a commis- 
sion of medical men, and have it authorized to 
make an investigation by some organized body, 
as the American Medical Association, and pay 
the expenses. The report of such a commis- 
sion would settle the matter for the profession. 
Should it be found that it is a fraud, the patron 
and profession would gain credit for using all 
honorable and legitimate means to avail them- 
selves of the knowledge. Should it be found 
that there were cures, then due credit should 
be awarded as deserved. 
In passing, as to these pastes. The writer, a 
few years ago, had a case of epithelioma of the 
tongue, in Connecticut. The tumor was about 
i y?, inches long and i inch wide. The case 
was put on diet, with the understanding that if 
there was no improvement the tumor was to be 
removed by the galvano-cautery. Officious 
relatives and friends took charge of the case, 
and the patient was sent to North Adams and 
operated on by paste. He suffered indescribable 
agonies, “ the torments of hell,” as he told my 
son afterward, and caught cold by staying in an 
unwarmed room, and died at his home soon 
after his return. I saw him a short time 
before his death, and found that the cancer- 
tissue was destroyed. I have since been in- 
formed by my son that while attending the 
clinic of one of our most eminent surgeons 
he heard of a case of epithelioma almost 
similar to this one, which was removed eight 
years ago by the galvano-cautery, the patient 
now being in good health. These North 
Adams cancer people sent down a young man 
to doctor General Grant, and I deemed it 
my duty to write to one of the General’s 
physicians, informing him of the facts above 
stated. My letter was given to a Boston 
Herald reporter, and published in that journal; 
so I trust that his posing as a martyr of bigoted 
doctors was somewhat offset. 
What makes the writer think that some cases 
may be cured as represented is that he once saw 
a case that twelve years previous had been 
under the care of a so-called famous cancer 
doctor in Boston. The woman said she had 
been as she was when seen by writer—bloody 
vaginal discharges, agonizing pain, walls of 
vagina and urethra like stone, terribly hyper- 
sesthetic, etc. She died thus, and the writer 
could not but look on her as a case of cancer. 
However, more lately the writer saw another 
case of this same doctor, called cancer, and 
treated by him for years as such, but which, 
when examined, proved to be a fistula in ana 
of fifteen years’ standing in a remarkably 
healthy woman. A papilla, large as a fore- 
finger’s end, occupied the perineal end of the 
fistula, and the ordinary surgical operation with 
one cut did away with the “cancer.” 
They make more thorough work of these 
things in Paris. A few years ago a mulatto 
gained a tremendous celebrity as a cancer 
doctor, and was surrounded with an abundance 
of wealthy and fashionable clients, and made 
fame and fortune. But when he was given 
wards in a hospital, and cases were carefully 
watched, his star went down like a descending 
rocket, as his claims were not sustained. It 
may be his treatment was thwarted unfairly. 
We hope not, as it is a terrible subject to trifle 
with. Every advantage should have been given Other Considerations as to Food. 
21 
the claimant, as there doubtless was, even if 
irregular and ignorant.* 
But, a regular or irregular medical man, 
who has, or thinks he has, anything to throw 
light on the possibilities of curing cancer, so 
long as he observes the rules of good society, 
is entitled to a respectful hearing. It is too 
bad that original workers are bulldozed, in- 
sulted, ridiculed, and put down by men who 
profess to be gentlemen, scholars, physicians. 
This is bad for the workers, who are thus 
soured and discouraged. It is bad for the pro- 
fession, as it often loses the knowledge it needs 
to save life and prevent misery. It is, to speak 
plainly, a devilish thing thus to throttle prog- 
ress, and is worthy of the dark ages of ignor- 
ance and superstition. It was enough to raise 
a storm of righteous indignation to see how 
some tried to hoot down Dr. Sayre and his 
plaster jackets. To interfere with any means 
whereby the miseries of poor humpbacks could 
be relieved was a hellish thing. 
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS AS TO FOOD. 
To syllogize, some difficult cases of chronic 
and acute diseases of nutrition have been cured 
by food. Cancer is a disease of nutrition. 
Hence, it is not improbable that cancer may 
be cured by food. 
Or, food has proved to be an agent of tre- 
mendous power of cure in some acute and 
chronic organic diseases. Hence, cancer may 
possibly be cured by the tremendous power of 
a food. 
A comprehensive view of food divides it into 
animal, vegetable, and mineral. It is any sub- 
stance taken into the system to sustain life in 
all its varied phases. It includes the air we 
breathe, the liquids we drink, and the aliments 
we eat. Air and water are mineral. Animal 
and vegetable food are organisms with which 
we all are familiar. 
The human animal, to exist in normal con- 
dition, must continuously and constantly come 
in contact with foods derived from the above 
sources. The range of alimentary objects for 
man is very large, yet we find him about as 
helpless, feeble, and weak in his choosing as 
other animals, though he must select his normal 
food, as they do. 
But, curiously enough, in his early history, 
nature provides a bountiful supply for all his 
wants, if she is let alone, in the shape of that 
unique and wonderful product of the protoplasm 
of the epithelial cells of the mammary glands— 
milk. 
Whatever difference of opinion there may be 
among intelligent persons as to the diet of after 
life, there is none about the first supply. It is 
animal food. Under its use, provided the 
mother is healthy and properly fed, the infant 
thrives and is one of the most beautiful objects 
found on the earth. The urine is free from 
odor, clear as champagne, no deposit on cool- 
ing, 1015 to 1020 specific gravity, the faecal 
evacuations are not disagreeable to the smell, 
and when examined are found to be structure- 
less and homogeneous under the microscope. 
Milk contains all the elements of a perfect 
food. Were it not so common, the world would 
marvel at its wonderful properties. But it 
should be taken direct from the glands, in 
order to prevent the fermentative vegetations 
which so soon develop after it has been re- 
moved. 
The processes of nutrition in a healthy babe 
are certainly up to the standard of perfection, 
and one would hardly expect to find the disease 
we call cancer in them. 
It is possible that here is the key to Dr. 
Twitchell’s case; in the milk consumed he 
found a natural aliment by which he put his 
system into such perfect order that the diseased 
condition near the eye was removed, as it were, 
by the natural laws of the body. 
But, to our subject. When the infant has 
become a child having teeth, the period of 
weaning is over and the child enters on a new 
regime of existence, cutoff from its magnificent 
food of infancy, and the all-important subject 
of what to eat now has to be settled at once. 
On what grounds is it usually settled? On 
those of ethics, manners, and customs; always 
more or less, where possible, on the ground of 
aesthetics, or the love of the beautiful in relation 
to appetite or the sense of taste. 
The writer is aware that the cultivated con- 
fine aesthetics to the senses of sight and sound— 
architecture, painting, music, oratory, etc. But 
these are all forms of motion; that is, in the 
actual realization of aesthetics. Still, take a 
hungry man after a long day’s work, the appe- 
tizing food will appear more beautiful to him 
by as much as it is more necessary than all the 
delights of the eye and ear. The history of he 
aesthetics includes the delights of the cook as 
* Perhaps this doctor conferred force or virtue or dynamos 
as the Greek has it, which gave nature power to heal, for she will 
heal anything if she has a chance. 22 
Other Considerations as to Food. 
much as those of the artist. Indeed, some 
cooks call themselves artists, and rightly. 
But, this as it may, it is an undeniable fact 
that man selects food because it is pleasant to 
the eye, taste, touch, smell, and hearing, and 
not wholly for the purpose of sustaining life 
and satisfying the wants of nature. 
So it will be seen that our common diet-lists 
are made as much to correspond with the de- 
mand of aesthetics as is possible with the mone- 
tary means of the parties concerned. 
Parents and guardians select this food. Those 
things which are pleasant (aesthetic) to the 
taste are much in demand—sugar and its prep- 
arations, for example. It is eaten not for the 
dietetic value, but because it tickles the palate 
with its delights (gustatory aesthetics). This 
article is consumed in enormous quantities. 
So fruits are judged by the senses of sight, 
touch, smell, and taste. When we were boys, 
did not cherries appear more tempting to the 
eye than they were pleasant to the taste ? 
This subject is worthy of development in a 
book. 
Other aspects of food are hardly consulted 
by the great body of eaters. These are the 
chemical, physiological, pathological, and 
therapeutical. 
There has been, and probably ever will be, 
the greatest diversity of opinion as to what con- 
stitutes the naturalfood of man, far more than 
for the so-called lower animals. 
What to eat has been the watchword of 
nations, religions, and governments for ages. 
Some say no animal food should be eaten, and 
others say the reverse. Vegetarians fight animal- 
foqd eaters, and vice versa ; but, so,,far as the 
can judge, it would seem as if the ques- 
tion had settled down to the proper proportion 
of animal food to vegetable food. This is not 
a polemic paper; hence, we would respect 
those who respect 11s, and, while we would not 
try to force our convictions on others, at the 
same time we would maintain our own views 
and give the reasons therefor, as, if they serve 
no other purpose, they can act as a history of 
opinion prevailing at the present time. 
The writer adopts the plan of two-thirds ani- 
mal and one-third vegetable as the natural, 
normal food for man in health after weaning. 
The reasons are:— 
1. When men desire to accomplish certain 
feats, like a contest of pugilists or of boat- 
racing, they go on to this plan nearly, with ex- 
ercise, and the invariable result is a wonderful 
improvement in physique, and the more rigid 
the training the better the chances of winning 
in the competitive contests. 
2. Such a diet has been found, in my own 
experience and that of others, to supply the 
nursing mother with an abundance of milk for 
her offspring, of a healthy kind, so that the 
babes have thrived wonderfully, and the supply 
has held out longer than when the mother was 
fed on other food. 
3. The urine of those who live on this pro- 
portion of animal and vegetable food is almost 
identical in physical characteristics with that 
of the healthy babe. The usual offensive odor 
of urine does not belong to an absolutely per- 
fect state of health, and many persons go 
through life calling themselves and being called 
healthy when they are not. 
The human body is very accommodating to 
circumstances, and elastic. It will exist under 
unfavorable circumstances, and there must be 
great allowance made for constitution, charac- 
ter, etc. 
But healthy feeding, other things being 
equal, will give great advantages over un- 
healthy. Some of these circumstances are 
occupation, bathing, exercise, cleanliness, 
healthy telluric and atmospheric surroundings, 
wars, rumors of wars, pestilences, perils by 
land or sea, governmental conditions, color, 
sex, profession, education, race, industrial and 
geographical environments, etc., etc. 
4. The fact that about two-thirds of the fifty- 
two teeth of the human being are mechanically 
formed for eating meat, and about one-third 
are formed for vegetable, is also another reason 
for this rule. 
5. Again, the stomach is organized to digest 
meat, while the small intestines are provided 
with glands to digest vegetable tissues. For 
this reason the diet should be mixed ; that is, 
animal and vegetable, and not exclusion of one 
or the other. 
6. When an adult lives on this proportion, 
one finds the same physical qualities of the 
urine and faeces as found in healthy nursing 
infants, and if intestinal gases are voided they 
do not have the rank sulphuretted hydrogen 
odor so common to discharged intestinal flatus. 
By this it is seen that this standard of health 
is set high, too high, perhaps, as it is not often 
found; but still the fact remains that this re- 
sult may be obtained in almost any case of dis- Fibroid Tumors. 
23 
ease, no matter how chronic or severe, if the 
patient will live faithfully to the plan which is 
more rigid than two-thirds animal and one- 
third vegetable, as to the writer’s knowledge 
has been done and is being done in consump- 
tion and syphilis, to speak of no more. These 
tests show to the writer’s mind the validity of 
the position taken, in a practical way, by actual 
examples of living cases watched by chemi- 
cals and the microscope so positively that he 
does not propose to give up until the opponents 
of the position demonstrate that it is incorrect, 
not by simple dicta, but by the tests of physical 
explorations with the best modern instruments 
of precision. 
The kinship of uterine fibroids, according 
to the present view, is close enough to allow 
the introduction of the principles of treatment 
in this place as presented to the Tenth Inter- 
national Medical Congress, at Berlin. 
I. “ Our bodies change once in seven years.” 
I think, with Dr. Playfair, of London, they 
change once in seven months, and oftener. 
II. The body is all the time being laid 
down and all the time taken up. Healthy or 
unhealthy tissue alike. 
III. If there is force enough for the body 
systemic the tissue will be laid down and taken 
up normally. 
IV. If there is not force enough to do III, 
then abnormal action comes, and the result may 
be chronic disease. 
V. The way to remedy the trouble is to re- 
store the normal power of the body systemic. 
1. By proper feeding. 
2. By proper hygiene. 
3. By proper medicines to tone the glands, 
aid the digestion and elimination, and make 
the machine run smoothly. 
4. By saving the useless expenditure of 
nerve-force in (a) work and (b) too much 
pleasure. 
5. By the conference of nerve-force by mass- 
age, horseback-riding, and in fresh air. 
6. By the inspiration of hope; thus psycho- 
logical force is given and the sympathetic 
nerves have a chance to do their work. 
7. By galvanism. This cannot be ignored. 
How it acts, I do not know. It may be, as 
with throat topical applications, we stir up 
things in the hope that as they settle down they 
may settle healthfully. At any rate, galvan- 
ism, given by profound puncture into the sub- 
stance of the tumor, strongly stimulates the 
vasomotor system. We have much to learn in 
this direction. 
8. It should never be forgotten that nature 
is always willing to cure if she has the means 
to do it with. That some of the conditions 
we call disease are merely manifestations, or the 
results of the manifestations, of nature’s efforts 
to warn off or expel or relieve unnatural action. 
9. When a case is cured, we can only say 
that in some known or unknown way we have 
aided nature, and she has cured, not we. 
10. So long as we can trace at least three- 
fourths of all our diseases to improper feeding 
and wrong modes of life, it follows that food 
in fibroids is the most important thing to be 
looked to. If you give normal food, other 
things being equal, and, as the Irishman says, 
“your patient lives long enough” (that is, not 
upset by intercalating causes), nature will cure 
numbers of cases now not cured, simply be- 
cause she has power enough to enforce her own 
laws. 
is afo institution inhere aases 
of carrcer andNuirfor 
plans. 
E. Cutter. 
“ The 7§w »WbADWAY. New York. Heartrest Sanatory, 
MOTT AVENUE AND 165th STFEET, NEW YDRK. 
Address communications to Dr. fohn A. iuiter, Busines s Manager, 
CP** iT ■1 TWA 
CIR :ULARS OF INFOl LMATION. 
No. 1. General circular of inf on, rntion. 
No. 2. Consuvption of the Lungs 
No. 3. Diet in Tumor and Cancel. 
No. 4. Bright's Disease, Impending Apoplexy, Paralysis, 
Cata ract, and Fatty H ’art. 
No. 5* Asthmc, Hay Fever, Bronchitis, and La Grippe. 
No. 6. Heart Diseases and Rheumatism. 
No. 7. Disease.' of Women. 
\ 
The aim is to he il those cases of chronic disease commonly 
called incurable. 
The Sanatory is located on high ground, in a square 
plot bounded on three sides as above and by Sheridan 
Avenue, commanding a fine view The drainage is new ; 
buildings are spacious and surroundings good. 
It is approach ?d by the West Side Elevated Roads to 
155th Street, ther ce by carriagt ; from Gram Central 
Depot by Harlem Railroad to Mott Haven Station, thence 
by carriage; and irom Melrose S ;ation, on the f ame rail- 
road, ten minutes’ walk. 
The results that we have ac aieved in our work in 
Heartrest Sanatory show the greater value o an insti- 
tution of its kind than the meais afforded in handling 
cases in private practice. 
All rij hts reserved. Copyright, 1891.