Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-10-13
GEN. FITZPATRICK UNDER ETHER
An Unprecedented Surgical opera
tion In the Astor HOuse-The gen
erals Struggle with two Muscular
Men.
rom the Evening Mail.

&From the Evening Mail.l
General Fitzpatrick, our late Minister
Ito Chill, was obliged to resign his posi-
Etion and return home on account of de
Hclining health. The disease seemed t
Sbe a. swelling on the left side of the
Mower part of the neck. 1t made its frs
about two years ago, anC
swas undoubtedly aggravated by mucl
Speaking in the Presidential campaign
Hthen pending. 1t was induced by over
Excitement in the army. Without re
5ceiving any permanent aid, the Genera
Returned to Chill. The formation in the
Throat increased. The most skillful med
Meal men in that country were baffled in
Htheir efforts to master the difficulty
AThey drugged the General nearly tC
adeath. They could not decide what i
4was.
4 The General returned to the United
Estates about ten days ago, and stopped
Vat the Astor House with his family. His
Efrst business was to consult some of oul
Amost skillful physicians. DR. L. p. Sass
pand his associate, DR.. r. p. Lincoln
tyere called in. The latter made a care
fful examination of the General, and de
4cided that the formation was an erectilC
Htumor. Without making known the re
4sult of his discovery, he requested DR.
@Hammonds, ex-Surgeon General of the
tUnited States army, to make an exam
Fination also, and he did so, with the SAINT
'sresult as to the nature of the disease.
Il The physicians held consultation anC
<deeided that DIR. Lincoln should perform
Ian electric operation, to which Genera
Fitzpatrick readily assented. Friday las
was the day fixed upon for the expert
4ment. At that time the tumor protrudeC
as large as hens egg. In
.1wardly it was much larger, crowdlng th'
& /windpipe half an inch over to the left
t making the effort TO talk and eat very
,dificult and painful.
Gen. Fitzpatrick was placed under the
finhuence of ether Four large sizeC
iarning needles were then inserted II
the tumor. Some idea can be formed o.
1.-THE stubbornness of the tumor by the fac
that it required all the strength stron.
man possessed TO force the needles int
tit. The fact that it was near the jugula
vein increased the difficulty An un
usually powerful electric battery wa
then applied to the needles, the full fore
Of the battery being given.
Notwithstanding the influence Of th
[ ether, the electricity had such an efec
F upon the patient that two powerful mel
had as much as they could do TO keel
him upon the bed The patient Ia.
E quiet under the influence Of the ether
In thirty minutes exactly the outwar
swelling began to 90 down, and soon di:
appeared altogether The General Ia
unconscious for two hours
As he gradually came to his senses, h
{ tbegan to complain Of excruciating pains
land a torturing burning in the throa
land neck; but these distressing sensl
tions we're quickly mingled with surpris
and delight, His windpipe had straight
eened and resumed its natural position
land tne great lump" which he ha
Mcomplained Of so much ten months pas
had disappeared OF course the Genera
was Jeff in a terrible weak condition, on
to-day, although instructed to keep hi
room and bed, is looking exceedingi
we'll