Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-04-11

SURGICAL MoNsTRosITY.-Th New
York Tribune's Philadelphia correspondent
horrlfies us with the following narrative:
but if there be monstrosites in the law,
there are others in surgery equally remarka-
Bile. One of the latter was recently dssected
at the Jefferson Medical College, the like of
which is unknown in the annals of human de-
formities A child, seven months old was
brought to the College Hospital from the West
ern part of the State, having appended to its
left cheek large mass of flesh, somewhat re-
semblng tumor. This mass grew more rap
idly than the child ITSELF AT birth it was no
larger than an apple, but when brought here
last month it was nearly foot long. Its sur
face was neither smooth nor regular, but was
divided into several globular masses, whose
pulsation was distinctly perceptible regular
and uninterrupted, from forty to hundred
beats per minute. 1t was trayersed by a large
artery, showing that it was largely supplied
with blood. The tumor was connected to the
child's check by peculiar caul-like mem
brane, pierced with holes, and its presence
was source of constant irritation to the
child, though supported by the mothers hand.
How to remove this huge tumor without de-
stroying the life of the child was the great
surgical problem. The parents, warned of the
danger, were yet extremely anxious to have
II.
under whose charge the patient had been
placed, decided that the use of the knife would
result in a fatal hemorrhage, and determined
to divide the caul-like membrane by using
French surgical instrument, the ecraSem
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 bleeding The operation
was performed in presence of an Immense
assemblage of medical 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 being ap-
Piled, the chain was rapidly worked until the
parts were well compressed, and afterward
very slowly. In fifteen minutes the tumor
came away with the instrument, the chain
having worked through the connecting mem
brane, while scarcely drop of blood followed
the removal, and but one small vessel required
hgature. The surface left on the cheek was
about twolnches square, and the tumor weigh
ed two and half pounds. The whole opera
ton was entirely successful, and the child lives
and has fully recovered. But the extraordin-
airy part remains to be told. The tumor thus
taken off was found to contain living child,
impertectly developed it is true, but still liv-
ing child. Fingers were seen, and portion of
ruuHlentary arm. 4 ne lntestlnes were well
developed, and no doubt swere entertained of
its being male child. A body, presumed to
be the heart, contained, imperfectly formed,
auricles and ventricles. The mesenteric arteries
and veins were of large size The dissecting
knife came repeatedly in contact with the oss-
eous matter Of rudimentary skeleton. Fat
was found in large quantities everywhere. 1t
was in fact repetition of the Siamese Twins,
only less perfectly developed These results
were received with profound establishment by
the crowded audience who witnessed the oper-
alton. The case is said to be unique in the
annals of human malformation