No. 75.

Mr. Wing to Mr. Fish

No. 54.]

Sir: For some time past I have been aware of the recent discovery of a remedy which was declared to be a specific for the cure of some of [Page 255] the most terrible diseases which scourge humanity. Not being willing, however, to excite hopes liable to the chance of disappointment, I have refrained from bringing it to the attention Of the Department hitherto.

Recent experiments which have been explained to me by credible parties, in addition to information concerning certain experiments set on foot by myself, both in Europe and the United States, have convinced me that there is, to say the least of it, enough of reality in the curative properties of the remedy to render it incumbent upon me to lay the matter before the Department; believing, as I do, that if the Department will at once give publicity to it many valuable lives may be saved, and relief afforded in most painful and distressing cases of affliction.

The remedy in question is the wood of a tree called the “cundurango,” existing chiefly in the southernmost province of Ecuador, (Loja,) and its peculiar virtues were discovered, it is said, by one of those trivial incidents which evince oftentimes how humble are the means used by Providence to make known the mysteries of nature and the wonders of science.

The ignorant wife of a common Indian laborer who had for some time suffered most fearfully from an internal cancer concluded finally to administer eternal relief to him by the simple process of mixing poison in his food. The woman, it would seem, acted in perfect good faith and honesty of purpose and with no sinister or malevolent design. She wished really to save her husband from his agony; and, feeling that his cure was absolutely impossible, she determined to administer a decoction of the leaves of the cundurango, which are said to be an active poison. Not finding the leaves at hand, she administered a decoction of the wood itself.

To her surprise the man at once began to rally, and as her first attempt had failed she still continued to dose him with the lotion from day to day in increasing quantities.

As a result the man entirely recovered, and the matter becoming public, further tests have established the powers of the wood as a remedial agency.

Only last night I was informed from the most eminent sources in the land that some of the cures effected by it were truly miraculous.

I give the report in regard to the manner in which these properties were manifested as common rumor has it.

Its efficacy in cancerous and venereal diseases has been already approved, and I judge by analogy that it would likewise prove beneficial in scrofulous and ulcerous affections of the different types.

Certainly it commends itself to the experiments of the learned practitioners of the United States; and if its curative qualities go no further than to conquer that fearful malady, the cancer, so long deemed hopelessly incurable, and so fraught with anguish of mind and agony of body, and certain death hitherto, then truly will it have accomplished a most noble end.

The condition of the inland roads and the difficulty of transportation to the coast will for a time interfere with its exportation in large quantities, but the energy of President Morena will eventually open it up to the commerce of the world and the relief of the afflicted.

In this connection I may add that this month the President of Ecuador will forward to the State Department at Washington one boalter of the cundurango for experiment and distribution.

I have thanked him for his courtesy and consideration, and I have every hope that under the enlightened supervision of the Department [Page 256] medical science may achieve therewith one of its most valuable victories.

Appended, as accompaniment A, I transmit the simple recipe, setting forth the manner in which the article is as yet applied to use. Experiment and experience may soon be enabled to adopt a more powerful and skillful method of application.

If the Department sees fit to make this matter immediately public, it will afford me genuine pleasure to aid both experimental science and suffering humanity by any means that my location and information on the subject may render practicable.

I have, &c.,

E. RUMSEY WING.

A.

Method of using thecundurango.”

A decoction of the cundurango is made out of a small piece of the wood beaten out flat, and half an ounce of which is boiled in three teacupfuls of water.

Of this decoction one teacupful must be taken in the morning and another at night.

If the patient has ulcers, they should be kept very clean by the use of aromatic wine or simple ointment, according to the degree of inflammation.

The decoction is only to be used for fifteen days consecutively. An interval of fifteen days must then elapse, when the remedy may again be resumed for the same length of time.

Great attention must be given in order to keep the digestive organs in the best possible condition.

With regard to any other counsel, the general aspect of the patient must serve as guide.

In this country (Ecuador) the cundurango has proven itself to be a powerful restorative, and must eventually work a complete revolution in the treatment of cancerous, venereal, and ulcerous diseases.

Dr. CASARES.

A true translation.

E. Rumsey Wing.