Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-08-21
Senator Hills Dread Foe,

be classed with the other corcinomae. or can
Ger proper. Its seat is always in the skin or
mucous membrane, or both, and it may form
itself INTO deeper structures, invading lym-
phatlc and other glands, and iniillratinc the
surrounding tissues. 1t is essentially dis
ease OF middle age, the tendency to it increa-
sing as age advances. 1t is generally occa-
sioned BY the long-continued or FREQUENTLY
repeated application of an irritant, as in the
case OF Senator Hill, who had the peculiar
haoit OF holding cigar constantly in his
mouth and keeping the nicotine coated end
against the left side ofhis tongue. This was
no doubt the existing cause in his case. It
IS we'll known that the Senator inherited a
Predlsposition to cancer, having lost sis
ter several years ago by the same dis
ease: Many instances are on record where
the disease has been traced to a short-ste
med pipe. ''>'
Zach Of the millions of little round cells is
section OF epitheloma, endowed with the
power OF reproduction, and the cells migrate
ana colonlZe, and feed upon the surrounding
tissues. About three years ago Senator Hill
observed little fssure on the right side of
MS tongue Aside from slight pain and occa-
slonal inconvenience nothing was thought of
IL. AZ 1t grew worse he consulted physi-
clan, and was told that it would soon heal.
HAD Senator Hill removed the exciting
cause, by removing the eyer.present cigar.
lne 1i en-; chances are that it would have healed
kindly. Soon an ulcer formed, and the
destruction of tissue and life began. The
disease grew daily worse Finally after
long and fatal delay, his friends induced
him to visit Professor s. ID. Groos only 70
near the great surgeon pronounce those ON
inous Words-"too late !" DR.. Gross held
consultation with some Of his colleagus, and
1t was decided to remove as much of the
diseased tongue as possible. On the o2d of
July 1881 DR.. Gross and other surgeons were
in waiting at the Jefferson College Hospital,
When Senator Hill entered smile played
upon his features, and he humorously re-
marked That there were great many pco.
pie IN TINS country that would like to see his
entire tongue extirpated. The ether was
now administered. A section of the left
side OF the tongue about two inches LONG
and half an inch wide was removed. The
oleeding was for q few moments profilse,
but the arteries were caught and the
ligatures cast around them and the red cur
rent quickly ceased.
For weeks he lived on liquid food, and in |
remarkably short time had so far recover
ed that he was sent to Atlantic CITY to has
ten the recuperation, and afterward he ioined |
his daughter in Washington But the dis
ease advanced with such rapidity that six
weeks after the first operation he was forced
10 return and undergo q second ordeal,
greater than the first. He was now despon-
dent and had little hope of final restoration;
but the Senator submitted, clearly under
standing that he could gain only temporary
relief DIR Gross now removed large part
OF the root of the tongue and all the sub
lingual glands found to be involved. An
incision was also carried down the neck for
few inches and several diseased lymphatic
glands were taken out. This was bloody
operation, as the knife severed many blood.
vessels in its course. The wound on the
neck was drawn together with silk stitches
ana Tree drainage established. The Senator
recovered very slowly from this operation
and as soon as he was able to travel he left
for his home in Atlanta, taking with him
one OF the resident assistants at the hospital.
Subsequently he went to Eureka Springs and
spenta month. Returning a third time, Dr. Gross
introduced drainage tube into the opening un-
der the jaw. On his third visit he was much
emac!ated and showed signs of the fast approach
Ing END. For more than year every movement
OF inc tongue i'll articulation. misticatiun and
swallowing caused great suffering. At his death
the cancer had xt ;nded back to the throat and
had destroyed the tonsl, palate and all the soft
tissues on the left side The cancer had cxcoriacd
the tissues surrounding the carotid artery until it
was visible to the eye. Unable to swallow OH ac-
count Of the destruction of the soft palate and
muscles Of deglutiton, the Senator's nourishmcnt
was for some time I'M jectcd into the stomach by
means Of tube passed down the esophagus or
gullet. The introduction OF this tube caused so
much pain that tho Senator many times refused
the nourishmcnt and declared death preferable to
the operation. Beef tea and milk punrh cOnsti- |
tuted his diet. The Immediate cause of death was |
blood poisoning and exhaustion