Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-04-12
A IOnstrOsity.

A Philadelphia correspondent of the New
York Tribune writes of one of the most remark
able monstrosities ever known in surgery, which
was recently dissected at the Jefferson Medical
College, in that city. The like is unattested in
the annals of human deformities.
A child, seven months old, was brought to the
College Hospital from the western part of the
State, having appended to its left cheek a large
mass of flesh, somewhat resembling tumof--
This mass grew more rapidly than the child it.
self At birth it was no larger than an apple,
but when brought here last month It was nearly
a foot long. Its surface was neither smooth
nor regular, but was divided into several glob.
ular masses, while pusation was distinctly per-
ceptbe, regular and uninterrupted, from forty
to hundred beats per minute. 1t was travers-
ed by large artery, showing that it was largely
supplied with blood. The tumor was connected
to the child's cheek by apeculiar caul-ke mem-
brane, pierced with holes, and its presence was
source of constant irritation to the child
though supported by the mothers hand How
tc remove this huge tumor without destroying
the life of the child was the great surgical prob
lem, The parents, warned Of the danger were
yet extremely anxious to have the frightlul
parasite taken off DR. Pancoast, under whose
charge the patient had been placed, decided
that the use OF the knife would result in fatal
hemouhage, aud determined to divide the caul-
like membrane by using a French surgical in.
strument, the ecraSeur, which, by forcing down
the skin, and bruising the vessels thoroughly
| before the chain of the instrument cuts through
the mass effectually prevents all serious bleed
ing. The operation was performed in presence
of an imInensn assemblage of medical men, stu
dents and others.
The child was placed under the influence Of
ether, when ali pulsaton in the parasite was
observed to cease. The instrument being ap-
piled, the chain was rapidly worked until tho
parts were well compressed, and afterward very
slowly. Ia fifteen minutes the tumOr came
away with the instrument, the chain having
worked through the connecting membrane,
while scarcely drop of blood followed the
removal, and but one small vessel required
ligature. The surface left on the cheek was
about two inches square, aud the tumor weighed
two and half pounds. The whole operation
was entirely successful and the child lives and
has fully recovered. But the extraordinary part
remains to be told The tumor thus taken off
was found to contain a living child imperiectly
developed it is true, but still living child
Fingers were seen, and portion of a rudimen-
tary arm. The intestnes were we'll developed,
and no doubt was entertained Ofits being a male
child. A body, presumed to be the heart, con
tanned, impeneety formed, auriccs and yentr-
cles. The mesenteric arteries and veins were
OF large size The dissecting knife came re.
peatedly in contract with the osseous matter of
a arudmentary skeleton. Fat was found in large
quantities everywhere Il was in fact repeti-
ton Of the Siamese Twins, only less perfectly
developed These results were received With
profound astonIshment by the crowded audience
who witnessed the operation The case is said
to be unique in the annals ofhuman malfoTma-
ton,