"Remote Sympathy"

So, Mukherjee opens with the short narrative about Hunter and the surgical success he had with "movable cancers"  in order to introduce the two problems that surgeons had prior to 1846 and the solutions to those problems.  Thank goodness for William Morton and his little glass vaporizer, first of all.  But, I think the thing that is most noteworthy about this section is the way that Joseph Lister takes the work of someone else--Pasteur-- and uses logic to reach a conclusion about infection.  And then, of course, the impact of these two discoveries on the treatment of cancer goes without saying.  Mukherjee, ever the obliging author, takes the reader one step further in his explanation of the impact of these two discoveries by way of a  comparative example: surgeon and musician, Theodor Billroth.  With the discoveries of anesthesia and antiseptic, Billroth was able to to do much more invasive surgery than Hunter who could only offer "remote sympathy."

"But what if the whole of cancer could be uprooted at its earliest stage using the most definitive surgery conceivable?"

Spoiler Alert:  This entire section shows us the progression of the treatment of cancer, but it also sets the reader up for a very "radical" approach in the treatment of breast cancer.  I mean, hey, as long as we have antiseptic and anesthetic, let's try to "uproot" the cancer no matter how much of the patient we might have to sacrifice.  Right?  Thankfully, today, although a woman diagnosed with breast cancer may still have to undergo a complete mastectomy, it is not the "go to" procedure.  There are other, more conservative, treatments as you will find out.

I like to envision Mukherjee setting up this part of the text.  I imagine his thought process.  "Okay.  We have to talk about Halstedt next.  But in order to get to Halstedt, the audience needs to know about advances in the field of surgery itself and how those advances would inform or allow Halstedt's radical ideas.  So, I need an example pre-antiseptic and pre-anesthetic and then I need a post-antiseptic and post anesthetic example (enter Hunter and Billroth) so that the reader can understand how Halstedt's idea would then be an acceptable choice."  Of course, I am not sure that that is what he was thinking, but given the evidence in the text, I think it is a reasonable theory.  What do you think?

Can you tell I'm sleepy tonight?  I just said goodbye to the last of the in-laws who were here as guests in the house for five days.  On the 4th of July there were 27 people in this house.  They ate 32 hot dogs, four lbs of burger, two boxes of pasta salad, two giant cans of baked beans, a half of a sheet cake, two pies, two large bags of chips, an entire vegetable tray, except for the broccoli and the cauliflower (why does no one ever eat that part?), eight liters of soda.....it was like the descent of the locusts.  Not going to lie, it was five days of fun, but a lot of work.  A lot of work.  I meant to say that twice.  I am the head chef.  I can't imagine the mutiny around here if I were to suggest a bowl of cereal for dinner.  I'm exhausted and my husband is telling me we might want to go into the basement now because apparently there is a weather situation brewing? Which means I'll have to haul the rabbit cage downstairs so that my 6 six year old doesn't freak out about the safety of the family pet.  His name is Bon Bon.  He's French, so plug your nose when you say his name.   So, there you have it.  Goodnight all.  I promise a more energized entry tomorrow :)