UREA CRYSTALS IN CANCER

The peculiarly penetrating fetor of a sloughing cancer is one of the horrible aspects of this disease. For the past year at the Tumor Clinic of the Cincinnati General Hospital, urea crystals 1 have been advocated and prescribed in such cases. If they are packed into the wound the odor will be stopped to a great extent. Although they dissolve in a few minutes, the offensive character of the ulcer becomes less with each application. The crystals are cheap, they possess a considerable antiseptic value, and there is no fear of a systemic reaction. The danger of burning the surrounding skin, which is considerable when the average dispensary patient attempts to use surgical solution of chlorinated soda at home, is avoided. There is one objection. After several days' treatment an occasional patient will complain of pain in the wound after packing. This can readily be relieved by morphine or other