Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-04-21
Surgical Operation.

y surgical operation was recently per
formed at the Jefferson University, which
was extraordinary in its character. Achlld,
seven months old. was brought Ia College
Hospital from th, Western part of the State,
having appended 10 its left cheek a large
mass of flesh, somewhat resembling Il tum0r.
This mass grew more rapidly than the child
itself. At birth it was no larger than an ap-
pie. but when brought here. 4 month ago, II
was nearly Il foot long. Its surface WAS nei-
Their smooth nor regular, but WAS divided in
to several globular masses, whose pulsatl"n
was distinctly perceptible. regular and unin-
terrupted. from forty to a hundred beats per
minute. 1t was traverSed by a large artery.
showing that it was largely supplied with
blood. The tumOr was connected 10 the
child's cheek by Il peculiar caul-like MEM
brane pierced with holes, and its presence was
a source of constant irritation I" the child,
though supported by the mothers hand
How To remove this huge tumor without
destroying the life of the child was the great
surgical problem. The parents, warned Of
the danger, were vet extremely anxious t"
have the frightful parasite taken of. DR..
Pancoast, under whose charge the patient
had been placed, decided that the use OF the
knife would result in Il fatal hemorrhage.
and determined to divide the caul-like mem
brane by using Il French surgical instrument
the ecraseu1, which, by forcing down the
skin, and bruising the vessels thoroughly be-
fore the chain of the instrument cuts through
the mass, etfectually prevents all serious
bleeding. The operation was performed IN
presence of an immense aSsemblage of medi-
cal men. students and others.
The child was placed under the influence
of ether. when all pulsation in the parasite
was observed to cease. The instrument be-
ing applied, the chain was rapidly worked
until the parts were well compressed, and
afterwards very slowly. In fifteen minutes
the tumor came away with the instrument,
the chain having worked through the con-
Meeting membrane, while scarcely Il drop Of
blood followed the removal, and but one small
vessel required n ligature. The surface left
on the cheek was about two inches square,
and the tumor weighed y pounds. The
whole operation was entirely successful, and
the child lives and has fully recovered. But
the extraordinary part remains 10 be told
The tumor thus taken off was found to con-
tain a living child, imperfectly developed, it
is true, but still a living child. Fingers were
seen, and part of Il rudimentary arm. The
intestines were well developed. and no doubts
were entertained of its being a male child. \
body. presumed to be the heart. contained,
imperfcctly formed, a~uricles and ventricles.-
The mesenteric arteries and veins were Of
large size. The dissecting knife often came
in contact with the Usseous matter Of Il rudl-
meptary skeleton. Fat was found in large
quantities everywhere. 1t was, in fact, re-
petition of the Siamese Twins, only less per-
fcctly developed. The results were received
with profound astonishment by the crowded
audience who witnessed the operation. The
case is said IT, be unique in the annals Of hui
man malformation.-Ph1 Jour.