The Journals of Martha E. McMillan

During the mid-19th century, a new treatment for cancer surfaced, one that relied on injectable enzymes to target and kill a cancer. These pancreatic enzymes, called trypsin, were first discovered by French physician Lucien Corvisart, and later perfected by Dr. James Beard, a zoologist. These enzymes were derived from “animal sources” and were available in both injectable and powdered form by 1900. After these drugs were tested and experimented with, it was deduced that the powdered form, which was meant to be ingested, could not survive hydrochloric acid found in the stomach, and were therefore not effective in that form. By 1907, the injectable form showed considerable promise, and was increasingly effective. It was always administered directly to the inoperable tumors found in patients, and caused “tumor necrosis, tumor liquefaction, and finally its sloughing off with the trypsin injections” (Gonzalez 32). It would seem that these treatments were effective a large portion of the time, but because of the newness of the method, were often used when no other recourse could be taken. Unfortunately, the method used for extracting these enzymes was often not regular enough to ensure that any active enzymes were present upon administration of the treatment. However, if the enzymes were active, they tended to kill the tumor, leaving a mass of dead tissue in the place of the tumor. Because of this, I believe that Martha either died of the cancer specifically because the treatment was ineffective, or from complications of it working, leaving a necrotizing piece of flesh in her abdomen that ultimately killed her. Near the end, her symptoms (vomiting, incoherence, and fever) seem to coincide with septic shock. Because of this, I believe that the latter option is more likely. There is much that can be learned from this occurrence in Martha’s life. She was expecting to die soon, and would often during those last months of her life discuss those who were already dead, most often her son Paul. When she moved to Springfield, she wrote a 218