Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-10-27
A Remarkable Surgical Operation on
Gen. Fitzpatrick.
From the New York Evening MAJ

Gen, Fitzpatrick, our late Minister to
Chill, was obliged to resign his position
and return home on account of declining
health. The disease seemed to be swell.
ing ON the lower part of the neck 1t made
its first appearance about two years ago,
and WAS undoubtedly aggravated by much
speaking in the Presidential campaign
then pending. TWAS induced by over ex
element in the army. without receiving
any permanent aid, the General red
to Chill, The formation IN the thro { in
creased The most skilful medical men in
that country were bafled in their efforts to
master the difficulty. They drugged the
General nearly to death They could not
decide what it was.
The General returned to the United
States about ten days ago, aud stopped at
the Aston House with his family, His first
business was to consult some of our most
sklllful physicians. DR.. Il. L. Sass aud his
associate, Dr. r F. Lincoln, were called
in. The latter made careful examination
of the General, and decided that the for
nation was an erecale tumor, Without
making known the result OF his discovery
h requested DR.. Hammond, ex.Surgeon
General of the United States army, to
make an examination also, and he did so
with the same result as to the nature Of the
disease.
The physicians held q consultation, and
decided that DR. Lincoln should perform
an electric operation, to which Gen. Kill
patrick readily assented. Friday last was
the day fixed upon for the experiment. AT
that time the tumor protruded outwardly
as large as hens egg. Inwardly it was
much larger, crowding the windpipe half
an inch over to the LETT, making the effort
to talk and eat very painful
General Fitzpatrick was placed under the
influence OF ether, -Four large-sized darn
ing needles were then inserted in the tu-
NOR. Some idea can be formed of the
stuhbornness of the tumor by the fact that
it required all the strength strong man
possessed TO force the needles into 1t.
The fact that it was near the jugular vein
increased the difficulty. An unusually
powerful electric battery was then applied
to the needles, the full force OF the battery
being given
Notwithstanding the influence of the
ether the electricity had such au effect
upon the patient that two powerful men
had Us much as they could do to keep him
upon the bed. The patient lay quiet un-
der the influence of the ether In thirty
minutes exactly the outward swelling be-
gan to 20 down, and soon disappeared al
together. The General lay unconscious
for two hours.
As he gradually came to his senses, no
began to complain OF excrunating pains,
and torturing burning in the throat and
neck; but these distressing sensations were
quickly mingled with surprise and delight
His windpipe had Strengthened and re-
sumed its natural position, and ,he great
lump, which he had complained OF so
much for ten months past had disappeared.
OF course the General was left in terribly
weak condition, but to-day, although in
structed to keep his room and bed, ID look
ing exceedingly well.
Dr. Lincoln says that the amount OF
electricity thrown into Gen. Kilpatrick's
system by the operation, il concentrated,
would transform piece OF the hardest
kind Of coal the size OF u marble into ball
of fire.