Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-09-16
Independent in all things,
ASHTABULA OHIO, SATURDAY SEPT 49, 1871

y
in the admirably conducted hospitals OF
those cities under circumstances Of
special advantage. Returning, entered.
at the age Of twenty.six, on the practice
OF my profession. IN five years ! had
established reputation as wide as the
country. Many Of my operations, some
of them almost unheard OF in the pro
fession, were reported in our own, and
transferred to foreign medical journals.
| had more than the fame I coveted
There was period in my profession.
al life, when scarcely day passed with.
out some call on me for tie skill that lay
in my practiced hand and scarcely a
week without some prolonged and diff.
cult or dangerous operation. The strain
on my nerves was very great the
amount depending very much on lhe
character and condition of my patients,
and the degree of risk involved.
1T was about this time, when repnrts
of my brilliant operations were spoken
Of as a perpetual surprise, that the event
occurred which am about TO relate
II had friend, older by several years.
with whom | had long been intimate. He
had watched my professional debut and
career with an interest as deep as he
could have felt in brother and he was
very proud of my success. One day he
came to my Office, and af er a word or
two, said, look OF concern settled over
his face-'l wish you would call in aud
examine a lump on Miriam's neck
'llc spoke of his wife,
'What kind of lump p asked
'It is about the size of walnut, and
is increasing in size, l think, quite rapid.
ly.'
It may be only the temporary swell
ing of gland l remarked, with as
sumed iudiffereHce, IS it sore to the
touch
Net in the least but Miriam begins
to complain of a sense of obstruction, as
if there were pressure on blood vessel
Eve wished to speak to you about it tor
some time, but she would not consent
'Only about the size of walnut p |
inquired.
May be little larger though not
much
i will call around this afternoon and
look at it,, said |. Tell Mrs, Baldwin to
expect me about tour o'clock. You will
be at home,'
'Oh, yes he replied, and turned to 60.
But there were questions in his mind he
could not leave without asking. Doc-
tor he said, coming back, and sitting
down, 'this may seem very small mat
ter in your eyes, but am seriously
troubled. 1t is 10 swelling of a gland,
but Il tumor. OF that am satisfied
'lle looked searchingly into my face
'What is the eXac. location p | asked.
'On line with the ear, and just above
the collar bone
we were both silen: for time
CAS- said, Doctors my friend resumed,
this thing has troubled me from the
beginning. 1t rests like heavy weight
on my spirits. 1t shadows me with a
strange toreboding. | am foolish, per
haps.'
Over sensitive about anything, that
touches one SO dear as your wife, ] ans
wered, With a smile. 1T is natural. Rut
don't give yourself needless anxiety.
Tumors in the neck are usually benignant,
as we say, and surgical skill ensures their
safe removal,'
Can they not be extirpated without
using the knife p he asked-'re-absor
ed by restored healthy action OF the
parts p
IN rare instances this has occurred.
But there is no established treatment on
which we can rely. In my own practice,
l have not met with single case where
a well-deyeloped tumo was re-aIsorbed
by normal action of the parts
.Do not the homeopathists profess to
restore, by their remedies, this very nor
NAL action p inquired my friend.
Il felt throb of impatience at this re-
ference to school OF practltioners for
which | felt contempt. ! have since
been compelled, by evidence that only
the hlindest prejudice would disregard,
TO hold them in different estimation
st. / replied, keeping oHt of my voice
all signs OF feeling, 'empirics made good
their promises, disease would quickly
vanish from the earth
'At tour O'Clock, this afternoon, Doc
tor Mr.. Baldwin arose.
'At four promptly / answered. And
he went away.
MIS-. DaluWiH received me WIFI
quiet cheertulness of manner, saying
my husband is apt to worry himself
about little things, as you are aware
'Her composure was only assumed l
felt that as her hand Icy in mine. My
first diagnosis was not satisfactory, and
l found great difficulty in concealing the
doubts that troubled me. The swelling
was clearly outlined, but not so sharply
protuberant as had been led to suppose
by the likeness to a walnut which my
friend had suggested. Ifeared from its
shape and presentation at the surface,
and also from the fact that the patient
complained CT sense Of pressure on the
vessels of the neck that the tumor was
deeply seated, and much larger than my
FREUD had suspected. Bat was most
as to its character. Being
bard and prsceptibly nodulated, There
was in my mind an apprehension that it
might prove malignant in character, and
the apprehension Was made stronger by
the tact that my patient had scrotulous
diathesis
There was no congestion of the veins,
nor discoloration of the skin around the
hard protuberance no pulsation, elasti-