The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-09-08
The Cause Of Senator HIPS Death.

The Cause Of Senator HIPS Death.
Epitheloma. or skin cancer, is entitled
to be classed with the other carcinoma.
or cancer proper. Its seat is always in
the skin, or mucous membrane, or both,
and it may force itself into deeper
structures. invading Emphatic and 9TH
er glands. and infiltrating the surround
ing tissues. 1t is generally Occasioned
by the long-continued or frequently re-
peated application of an irritant, as in
the case OF Senator Hill. who had the
peculiar habit of holding a cigar almost
constantly in his mou h, and keeping
the nicotine-coated end against the lett
side of his tongue. This was, no doubt.
the exciting cause in his case. 1t is well
known that the Senator inherited pre-
disposition to cancer, having lost a sis
ter several years ago by the same dis
ease. Many instances are on re ord
where the disease has been traced to a
short-stemmed pipe.
Each of the millions of little round
cells is section of epitheloma endowed
with the power Of reproduction, and the
cells migrate and colonize and feedupon
the surrounding tissues. About three
years ago Senator Hill observed little
assure on the r ght side of his tongue.
Aside from slight pain and occasional
Inconvenience nothing was thought of
it. As it grew worse he consulted a
physician. and was told that it would
soon heal Had Senator Hill removed
the exciting cause by removing the ever
present CHAR the 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 Prof. s. d. Gross, of this city, only
to hear the great surgeon pronounce
those ominous words. TOO late" Dr.
Gross held consultation with some of
his colleagues. and it was de ided to re-
move as much of the deceased tongue
as possible. On the ed of uly last DIR.
Gross and other surgeons were in wait
ing at the Jefferson College Hospital.
When Senator Hill entered smile
played upon his features, and he humor.
ouslv remarked that there were a great
many people in this country that would
like to see his entire tongue extirpated.
The ether was now adm .nistered. A
section of the left side OF the tongue,
about two inches long and half an inch
wide, was removed. The bleeding was
for few moments profuse, but the ar
teries were caught and the ligatures
cast around them and the red current
quickly ceased.
For weeks he lived on liquid food, and
in a remarkably short time had so far
recovered that he was sent to Atlantic
City to hasten the recuperation, and
afterward he joined his daughter in
Washington. But the disease advanced
with such rapidity that six weeks after
the first operation he was forced to re-
turn and undergo second ordeal,
greater than the first. He was now de-
spondent and had little hope of final
restoration; but the Senator submitted.
clearly understanding that he could gain
only temporary relief. DR.. Gross now
removed a large part of the root of the
tongue and all the sublingual glands
found to be involed. An incision was
also carried down the neck for few
inches and several diseased Emphatic
glands were taken out. This was a
bloody operation, as the knife severed
many blood-vessels in its course. The
wound on the neck was drawn together
with silk stitches, and free drainage es-
tablished. 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 spent month. Returning a third
time, DIR. Gross introduced drainage
tube into the opening under the jaw.
On his third visit he was much emaciated
and showed signs of the fast approach
ing end. For more than year every
movement of the tongue in articulation,
mastication and swallowing caused great
suffering. At his death the cancer b ad
extended back TO the throat and had de-
Stroyed the tonsil, palate and all the
soft tissues on the left side. The cancer
had excoriated the tissues surrounding
the carotid artery until it was visible to
the eye. Unable to swallow on account
of the destruction of the soft palate and
muscles of deglutition, the Senator S
nourishment was for some time injected
into the stomach by means of tube
passed down the esophagus or gullet.
The introduction of this tube caused so
much pain that the Senator many times
refused the nourishment and declared
death preferable to the operat on. Beef
tea and milk-punch constituted his diet.
The immediate cause of death was
blood poisoning and exhaustion. -Rila-
deiphia Press.
Friction.
That machine will run the smootbest,