Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-09-16

! '1'h bOllbfdi dll lulIEs
Ills blanchiug lips, and voice pitched
10 low key that its termor might be
hidden, told plainly enough that must
conceal every apprehension that troubled
me-
ut presents all the indications Of what
we call tibrous tumor,' said l.
Are they Of malignant type 2 be
asked, with suspended breath
No; they are entirely harmless but
for their mechanical pressare on sur
rounding vessels, tissues aud organs
lie caught his breath with deep
sigh of relief then asked
is there any danger in their removal!'
None | replied
'llave you ever taken tumor from the
neck ? he asked.
More than a DOZEN
'Were you always successful 2
Always
Ills breath came more freely. Then
after little pause he said
There will have TO be an operation in
this case " saw bis lips grow white
again.
Il fear that it cannot be avoided
7
remarked, his voice rallying to an almost
cheerful tone, the tumor is small, aud
evidently superficial in its character
The knife will not haye to 90 very deep
among the arteries, veins and nerves 50
thlckly gathered about the neck
Il did not correct his error
How long will it take 2 he next Gueri-
ed.
Not very long answered evasivcly
Ten minutes 2
Yes; perhaps a little longer
'She will pot be conscious of pain 2
NO; no more. conscious than if she
were a sweetly sleeping infant
'Mr. Baldwin walked nervouslv the
whole length Of the parlor twice then
stood still in front of me-
Doctor he said solemnly, 4 place her
in your hands. She will consent to anv-
thing | may conclude it best to do. We
have entire confidence in your Judgment
and skill.'
'lle stopped short, and turned partly
away to hide excess of feeling. Rally
ing after moment he continued, with a
forced smile on his lips
TO your professional eyes | show un-
manly weakness. But, you must bear in
mind how very dear she is, Doctor! It
makes me shiver in every nerve to think
of the knife going down into her tender
flesh. You might cut me to pieces if
that would save her,
Your fears exaggerate the reality. Mr..
Baldwin, | replied. 'She will 90 into a
deep sleep, and while she dreams pleasant
dreams, we will simply dsseet out the
tumor, with all its foreign accumuatons
and leave the healthy organs to continue
their action under the old laws of unob-
structed lite.
q am weak and childish, know he
answered, but l can't help it. The
whole thing touches too nearly home
AS | was leaving, he s4id-'Doctor,
how soon ought it TO be done r
'The sooner the BETTER returned, 'af
ter the hot weather is over. Say in Oc-
tober. in the meantime, will carefully
watch its growth and condition.
My next examination of the tunor.
made in about a fortnight, satisfied me
that it was deeply seated. and probably
as large as a small orange. The pro-
truding portion was only small lobe of
the foreign body. A substance SO large.
and OF 50 hard texture, must necessari-
Iy cause serious diSplacement of the
blood-vessels, nerves, glands and mus
cles OF the neck, and render an early en-
tirpation necessary to saye life. In the
two weeks there had been preceptible
growth.
During the neyt two months I saw
Mrs. Baldwin frequently, and noticed
with concern increasing signs of press.
ure on the caro,ils, indicated bv 4 Slight
sutfusion of the face. The middle Of Oc-
tober was set down as the time when the
operation should be made. AS the peri
cd approached, | felt nervous dread
about the case. | had consulted the
most distinguished surgeon in the city,
my senior by over fifteen years. His di-
agnosis agreed in every particular with
my own We were satisfied that it was
a tibrous tumor, non-nalignant, but so
deeply cast among the great vessels, and
probably so attached TO their sheaths, as
to render extirpation a difficult, and
without great caution, n dangerous oper-
alton.
This was the only case, in all my prac-
tice, where felt like transferring the re-
sponsibilty to another. Not because of
the difficulty that would only have
quickened my ardor-but because Mrs.
Baldwin was the tenderly beloved wife
Of the oldest, warmest and tyuest friend
] possessed; and knew that personal
feelings would come iu, and might dis
turb the cool equilibrium of mind so es-
sential TO skill and steadness of hand
As the time approached, my concern
increased. So oppressive did this be-
cJme, that at last sent for Mr. Bald
win and seriously proposed that DIR. B.,
the eminent surgeon to whom / have !
just referred, should be called on to per-
form the operation. .-Et..|
lie is older, and has larger expe-
Fience,' ! said. 'All the profession award
to him the first place III our city, if not
in the country
Il have no doubt of his SKILL replied
my friend, speaking in firm, decided
way, but his skill is not supplemented |
with SobrietE, Won know that as well
as do. Ills habit of drinking too free
ly has become a thing of common noto-