The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-04-07

let form, Description Of a Tumor Of ex-
traordinary size, which grew upon the side
Of Mr.. Thomas Hyskell, Of Madison County.
Iowa, and Of its successful removal by that
eminent Surgeon, DR.. John F. Sanford, Of
this place. Mr.. Hyskell is &c years of age.
Has followed farming the greater part Of his
life. The tumor dates its origin to the fall Of
1857, when he injured bis side by shouldering,
unaided, and carrying some distance sack
containing three and one half bushels of
Wheat. The tumor commenced its formation
then and, discovered some three months
thereafter to have reached the size of wal
nut, continued to grow rapidly until its reno
val, when its dimensions, for an Enchondrom-
atous tumor, was remarkable and unprece
dented Early IN this year Mr.. Hyskell came
to keokuk and consulted with Dr. Sanford
concerning its removal. After mature exam
ination Dr. s. concluded to perform the ope-
ration. 1t was our fortune, through his
kindness, to be present. Several Physicians
and citizens were in attendance The tumor
grew upon the right side and externally its
largest diameter was II inches, its lateral
diameter 10 inches, and its central diameter
or depth to the surface of the body was
inches. Chloroform was administered and
then DR.. Sanford commenced. land we follow
his description). " First made an incision 10
inches long, extending from the right edge of
the breast-bone to the spinal column. This
incision was curved downward. SO as 10 pass
over the line Of division, between the upper
third and lower two-thirds of the tumor.-
The beginning and termination before and
behind, being on level with each other, and
with the upper edge Of the tumor Begin.
ming at point six inches from the margin of
the breast bone in front, for one and the same
distance from the spine, for the other. two in.
cisions were made, extending downward ff.
teen inches, aud meeting at a common point
near the upper edge of the hip bone. These
missions included conical portion of the
skin, the apex or point downward, which was
destined to be removed with the mass.
Dissections were now commenced with
view to detach the flaps of the skin from the
tumor, after which, the feshy and cellular
substance was divided all round the neck
down to the bony part. At this stage OF the
operation efforts were made to dislodpe the
tumor, but, finding it quite as firm as ever,
the ribs, in front and behind were divided by
small circular saw, and detached as gently
as possible from the parts beneath. This. we
thought, would enable us to effect the reno.
val without further trouble. But it was now
found that large, firm, bony processes ex.
tended far into the abdomen, and afte, salts.
flying ourselves that they were only parts of
an extensive bony formation internally, the
saw was again resorted to, and these bony
! FORMATIONS, constituting the bulk ofs the
neck, were divided with stout metacarnal
saw. The tumor now tumbled to the Aoor.
and the internal condition was for the first
time apparent. Two or three arteries Of
considerable size required the ligature. and
after applying cold astringent solutions to the
bony surfaces, from which the blood was ooz-
ing copiously, the extensive wound was
dressed and the patient removed to his room
and placed in bed.''
The interior growth ofsthe tumor was found
to occupy nearly half the capacity of the
abdomen. 1t was the belief of Dr.. Sanford
that the internal growth, deprived of its chief
sustenance, would perish and gradually fall
away Results have justified his opinion
Mr.. Hyskell is still at the Infirmary, is out of
danger, and but small portion Of his tnmor
remains which is daily becoming reduced.
The operation was thoroughly successful
and by it "a brilliant triumph in operative
Surgery is firmly established, and the noble
science has, in one of the most notable in
stances of modern times made good its claim
to the respect, the generation and the graft.
tude Of mankind