Such arguments will scarcely establish the general nature of the disease; but others, drawn from its history, may be more decisive. It is not uncommon to rind a cancerous sore heal by the efforts of nature only; and it is equally common to find soon afterwards, diseases in different organs, as if some morbid matter had been deposited on them. We have seen an enteritis, with peculiar symptoms, follow; and we have, in more than one instance, found an apoplectic attack at no great distance. Fixed pains in the limbs, and an unconquerable sciatica, have been frequent followers. It may be asked, do cancers so often heal as to give such an extent of observation ? We have seen six instances of this kind, and one or other complaint has followed: in one an apoplectic attack occurred twice, and the last was fatal. It is with pain we add another source of similar observations, we mean the extirpation of a cancerous tumour. Were the disease local only, the operation should be expected always to succeed; and indeed in the early stages, in tumours which have yet assumed no very decided character, which are moveable, and the constitution otherwise sound, no return is found often to take place. In other circumstances, however, a return is common. The blood then may be at last affected; and, if so, why not at first ? Why should not a blow in the breast in every instance produce a cancer, if it does in any, but that the constitution is previously diseased ? Thus a blow-on the knee will produce a white swelling; but ten thousand children receive blows on the knees, and unless a scrofulous disposition should concur, no inconvenience arises.

If, however, the matter is generated in the constitution and determined to a gland; if, again absorbed and carried to another organ, various questions will arise. - Is the whole deposited on the part first affected? Does the poison possess an assimilatory power, or when one part is diseased, is it the focus in which all the matter is concentrated ? We find it is fashionable to deny cancer to be a general disorder, and complaints, previous or subsequent to it, are explained away; yet, while we do not triumphantly urge difficulties on the opposite side, we trust that they will not be pressed against what we suggest only as the more probable opinion. We will, however, explain our own ideas of state of the poison in this complaint. In all cases of cancer, either a morbid matter seems to float in the constitution, or the fluids are in a depraved state, from which such a matter may be derived. The last is seemingly more often the case. When, then, a cause of inflammation supervenes; when a wound or a bruise occasions the necessity of a discharge; this wound will assume what is styled a bad aspect, any suppuration will become cancerous. In fact, what might be a mild, salutary suppuration in a healthy constitution, will thus be of an opposite kind. While the sore continues open, there is not always an absorption; for in the irritable, inflammatory state of ulcers from specific contagion, we see few, if' any, in-j stances of the fluids being absorbed. Yet in cancer, after some time, we know that absorption does take place; and, when inflammation abates, and the sore is healed, we have every reason to think that the impediment to the action of the lymphatics is removed. The matter then, thus accumulated, and thus changed, may be taken up and again deposited.

If this reasoning be admitted, and we know that it will meet very accurately all the phenomena, we shall find that the fomes in the blood is not really cancerous, but capable of becoming so in consequence of its being subject to the process of suppuration in the injured part. Supposing, therefore, the injured part to be removed before suppuration has contributed to the change, the patient may remain safe; and supposing these depraved fluids not again to be brought to a suppurated gland, the disease may not recur. The whole of this reasoning may be pronounced theoretical. Admitted: it will, however, explain every appearance; it will elucidate every part of the best founded practical conduct. Let it be for a moment supposed fallacious; it will afford a clue to connect numerous facts and discordant directions.

But what, it may be asked, is this depraved state of the blood which will produce such a destructive enemy? We can answer, that it is an excess of ammonia, with a more copious development of an ingredient in the animal fluids which we have so anxiously pointed out, sulphur. The discharge from cancer, Dr. Crawford has informed us, is an hepatised ammonia; and we find in no secreted fluid any ingredient that does not exist in the blood. Its component parts may be varied in form, in proportion, in consistence, and acrimony, but they are still the same; and this position, not hastily hazarded, we trust will be kept in the mind of our readers. It shall at a future period be developed.

In this reasoning we have laid a particular stress on the changes produced by suppurated glands: it was not without reason; but the explanation of the reason would lead us from the point. In fact, there are few instances of glands suppurating, as the surgeon style it, kindly. Suppuration chiefly takes place in the cellular substance; and, when the glandular parts are affected, whether conglobate or conglomerate, the wound does not heal readily. When, however, in a cancerous habit a tumour or a wound assumes a peculiarly unpleasant appearance, if the part is not glandular, the wound may either heal, or the whole be taken out, if accessible, with little danger of returning; and we think it a strong proof of what we have alleged, that, when not in a gland, but in the lip or nose, the operation generally succeeds: in fact, the peculiar matter is not further contaminated by the unkindly suppuration. We have spoken also of cancers chiefly as a female complaint. It is not their peculiar misfortune; but in them it chiefly attacks the glands; in men, other parts. In women the operation does not often succeed; in men it seldom fails.