Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-03-09

puISdGlOu, elasticity, HuctuaLlOn Ol
soreness. Only a solid lump that
recognized as the small section or lob
ule of deeply seated tumor, already
beginning to press upon and obstruct
the blood vessel. 1t might be fibrous
or NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. or malig,
nant; which. in this my first diagno.
sis, [ was not able to determine. But
for the constitutional habit of my pa
tient, [ should have concluded favor
ably.
at was not easv To veil nv concern
from Mr.. Baldwin, who followed me
down stairs, after | had finished the
examination, and piled me with eager
questions.
Deal plainly with me DOCTOR" he
said. Il wish to know exactly what
you think. Don't conceal anything
"His blanching lips and voice pitch
ed to low key that its tremor might
be hidden, told plainly enough that l
must conceal every apprehension that
troubled me-"
ut presents all the indications of
what we call fibrous tumor," said |.
care they Of malignant type ?" he
asked with suspended breath.
"No; they are entirely harmless
but for their mechanical pressure on
surrounding vessels, tissues and or
gans."
He caught his breath with a deep
sigh of relief; then asked
as there any danger in their re-
moval ?"
"None," I replied.
"Have you ever taken a tumor from
the neck ?" he asked.
"More than a dozen"
Were you always successful ?"
always"
His breath came more freely
Then after a little pause, he said
There will have to be an operation
in this case ?" | saw his lips grow
white again.
II fear that it cannot be avoided"
There is one comfort Mr.. Bald
win remarked, his voice rallying to
almost cheerful tones, "the tumor is
small, and evidently superficial in its
character. The knife will not have
to 90 very deep among the arteries,
veins and nerves so thickly gathered
about the neck"
| did not correct bis error.
"How long will it take ?" he next
queried.
Not very long" I answered evas-
lively.
"Ten minutes ?"
"Yes; perhaps a little longer"
"She will not be conscious of pain p
No; no more conscious than if she
were a sweetly sleeping infant"
Mr.. Baldwin walked nervously
the whole length Of the parlor twice
then stood still in front of me.
Doctor" he said solemnly, a place
her in your hands. "She will consent
to anything may conclude it best tC
do. We have entire confidence il
your judgment and skill"
He stopped short, and turned part
ly away to hide excess Of feeling
Railying after a moment, he continued
with a forced smile on his ips-
ITO your professional eyes | show
unmanly weakness. But you mus
bear in mind how very dear she is
doctor! 1t makes me shiver in every
nerve to think of the knife going dowI
into her tender flesh. You might Gu
me to pieces if that would save her.
"Your fears eyaggerate the reality
Mr.. Baldwin, Ireplied. She will go in
to a deep sleep, and while she dreams
pleasant dreams, we will simply dis
sect out the tumor, with all its foreigl
accumulations, and leave the health,
organs to continue their action unde
the old laws of unobstructed life.
"I am weak and foolish, | know,
he answered, "but | can't help it. Th
whole thing touches too near home.
GAS | was leaving, he said, "doctol
how soon ought it to be done ?"
The sooner the better" | return
ed, latter the hot weather is over
} Say in October. In the meantime
will carefully watch its growth an
: condition"
"My next examination of the tumo1
: made in about a fortnight, satisfe
: -rne that it was deeply seated, an
I probably as large as a small Orange
The protruding portion was only
:. small lobe of the foreign body. A sui
t stance so large, and of so hard a tex
4 ure, must necessarily cause seriou
e displacement of the blood vessel
r nerves, glands, and muscles Of th
q neck, and render an early extirpatio
necessary to save life. In the tw
: weeks there had been no perceptibl
growth.
= During the next two months | sa
Mrs. Baldwin frequently, and notice
a with concern increasing signs of pres
q ure on tho carotids indicated by
f slight suffusion of the face. The mil
- die of October was set down as tt
|, time when the operation should
= made. As the period approached,
;, felt nervous dread about the cas-
n | had consulted the most distinguis
d ed surgeon in the city, my senior
t. over fifteen years. His diagnos
1t agreed in every particular to my ow
e We were satisfied that it was fbro
d tumor, non-malignant, but so deep
IS cast among the great vessels,and pro
,e ably so attached to their sheaths as
1t render extirpation a difficult, a n
IN without great caution dangerous Q
u. Grafton.
er "Tbis is the only case, in all L
1T practice, where | felt like transferri
r. the responsibility to another. N
ly because of the dificulty-that wou
IN only have quickened my ardor-b
a. because Mrs. Baldwin was the tend,