Daily Republican., 1882-08-21
SENATOR HILL'SOSNCER.
A Thrilling Recital OF his SuRSr.
tHEa DuT1Bg tho Past Year.

A Thrilling Recital OF his SuGrSr.
IEga DuT1BE tho Past Year.
Senator Benz jamin H. Hill, who died
Of cancer Of the tongue and throat, on
Wednesday last, had terrible ordeal
to pass through during the last year of
his life. Mr.. Frank A. Burr, person.
al friend of the Senator, in letter to
the Philadelphia Press says:
"It was my high privilege to have
enjoyed Mr. Hills friendship almost
from the day he entered Congress until
he died. When he resolved TO come
North in search Of medical advice, l
met him by appointment at the Cont
Mental Hotel. Noting that his couute.
nance wore a rather troubled expression
l ventured to remark that perhaps he
was not feeling well. His own words
expressed his condition better than any
words of mine can.
SEEKING MEDICAL ADVICE.
II am in deep trouble" he said, 81
have just come from New York, where
have been consulting the eminent
DR.. Wood. He tells me have cancer
Of the mouth" Then after pause, as
II still having hope, "but after all he
did not make thorough examination,
and said that the microscope was need
ed to determine the extent of the evil, so
/ | have come to Philadelphia for that
purpose.
"W On did you first notice the trou-
| Ule p | asked.
'Abo1t three years ago 1 discovered
an insignificant pimpe on my tongue,
but not for year afterward did I give
1t any particular attention. Iconsult-
cd my physicians at home. They
thought nothing Of the matter, suggest.
ing, however, that should consult em-
inent medical authority, and among
others DR.. Gross, of this city. While
in New York that year consulted DR..
Bayard, a skilled homeopathic. He
called 1t an ulcer, and began treatment
for the same, denying that had any
thing like cancer. followed his treat.
ment until this year. Since the ad-
journment of the Senate it has given
me considerable trouble, and by the ad-
vice OF my son-in-law, DR.. Ridley, 1
have come North for treatment, and in.
| tend consulting DIR. Gross.
After some further conversation and
to my inquiry whether any Of the fam.
lily was with him, he said: "No, and
No one is to know Of this until after the
consultation, or if need be, until after
the knife haS done its work."
Senator Hill kept his appointment.
1 awaited his return. A deeper shade
overspread his face as he entered the
apartment. ga cancer!" said he.
The examination took place at the hos
pital at o'clock"
"What did the doctor say ?"
THE SAD TRUTH ANNOUNCED.
DR.. Gross and DR.. W. N. Pancoast
made the examination After q mo.
ment's consultation DR.. Gross said to
me: "Senator, do you wish me to tell
you exactly what is the matter with
you2"
II do"
swell, sir, you have cancer ofthe
tongue"
"What is the remedy?"
"There is only one."
"And that is"
"The knife"
"WiIl permanent cure be the re.
sult?"
"That is problematicSl; 1t may return
and iT may not"
SIS there any danger of fatal results
from the operation ?"
''There is always more or less danger.
Erysipel9s may set in; n;hemorrhage may
take place; the shock may produce
death"
"What have you concluded to DO"
asked, as Senator Hill paused.
Operation in the hospital at
O'clock" he replied. At that hour
Senator Hill met Drs. Gross and Pan.
coast at the hospital and accompanied |
him. DR.. Gross, who was to perform
the operation, was dressed in dismal
looking robe of dark rubber, buttOned |
close to the neck. DIR. Pancoast stood |
at his side, and several young physi. |
clans were in attendance.
Turning to the doctors he said:
"Gentlemen, this Is a serious matter |
for me; do what you have to do
thoroughly, and leave nothing there
that ought to come out"
never saw such perfect composure |
Ia man. He took the chance of life
with heroic courage. When he had
finished his Injunction to the surgeons,
with the utmost GOODNESS he settled |
himself upon the operating table. A
young physician began applying the
chlor0form. 1t was no small task to |
bring the great powerful man under its
influence and it was several minute
before DR.. Gross began the operation.
A section of the tongue and that por-
ton of the floor Of the mouth tainted by
the cancer were removed. The opera
ton consumed twenty six minutes, and
they must have been moments OF in.
tense agony. 1t was some time before
the distinguished patient recovered
from the effects of the chlor0form. He
could not be Immediately removed but
as soon as possible was placed in re.
olining chair and carried to an upper
story of the hospital, where he re-
mained for some time. For two nights
and days 1 sat by his side, and he was
a brave and hopeful patient. After the
operation, his family were accord.
ing to his own instructions, apprised Of
his condition. IL
When the Senate met the winter af-
tor the operation Senator Hill had 30
far recovered that he not only took his
seat, but was able to make speech OF
length without much diff
Guilty. Both he and all who knew him
hoped and believed that he would fully II
recover, and that many years Of useful
ness were still before him. The condi-
tion of the Senator's health, however,
was only improved for a season. he
after ards went through two more op'
el ations in this city. From these last
operations Mr.. Hill never recovered.
He sank lower and lower. The nest :
skill of the physicians availed but III .