Now I perfectly desponded: But a Friend and Kinsman of the Doctor’s, a _Surgeon_ of no small Reputation, assured him, that he had known, when other Methods failed, a _Mercurial Fumigation_ had answered: And what is it that a rational Man will not try to prevent the excruciating Pains of a _Cancer?_ When the Doctor mentioned this to me, I confessed I knew nothing of that Practice, and always had an ill Opinion of the Fumes of _Mercury_: And he also owned to me, that he was wholly unacquainted with it; but satisfied in his Friend, and therefore would try it: He began the Course according to his Friend’s Directions; I never pretended to order any thing afterwards; but however still frequently visited my Good Friend, though with an aking Heart. The Fumigation not only made him spit, whilst he was using it, but also for some Hours afterwards; and the Patient continued to use it for several Days, but without any good Effect upon the _Ulcer_. In about ten Days after he had left off the Fumigation, a very hard Tumour began to arise, upon the Muscles of the lower Part of the Face and Neck, and increased very fast, and in a very short Time spread it self from Ear to Ear: and, by the Bulk, in a great measure prevented his Swallowing, and soon suffocated him. He was Chearful, and to all outward Appearance tolerably easy to the last, and had what he now desired, a gentle Release, _July 16, 1719_.
And thus, to the Misfortune of Mankind, it is manifest to me, that _Mercury_ is not adequate to this _Herculean_ Distemper: but however, this Case, and That I mentioned before to the Doctor, gives me good Reason to believe, that _Mercurials_ do at least blunt the Acrimony of the Humour, and so procure Ease. For, though that Patient had most acute Pains, before he entered into a _Mercurial_ Course, yet afterwards he was easy all a long, as he told me; for I was called in but a few Days before he died. These, and other melancholly Cases, should not however, I think, wholly discourage _Surgeons_ from making rational Attempts upon a Distemper, which I fear is more frequently met with, than formerly, in this Part of the World: It is to be hoped, there is in Nature a Specific that may answer; and happy will that Man be who shall discover it. He will deserve to be placed next to the Great _Hippocrates_, and also to be rewarded, by the Publick, equally with him that shall find out the _Longitude_.