Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-09-02
TOBACCO CANCER.
What Killed Senator HuI, OF Georgia
philadelphia Press. I

" nc ClttSSeU Win the other carclnOm4
or cancer proper. Its seat is always il
Tie SKIN, or mucous membrane, or both
ana 1t may force itself into deeper struc-
lures, invading lymphatic and Other
glands, and infiltrating the surrounding
tissues. It's generally occasIoned by the
long continued or frequently repeated
application of an irritant, as IN the case
or Senator Hill, who had the peculiar
ha5lt OF holding a cigar almost constant
" IL his mouth, and keeping tie nico-
une-cOated end against the left side of
MS tongue This was, no doubt. the eX-
citing cause in his case. 1t is well known
that The senator inherited predisposi-
ton 10 cancer, having lost sister several
years ago by the same disease Many
instances are on record where the disease
has been traced to a shOrt-stemmed
pipe
Each Of the millions of the little round
cells IS a section of epitheloma endowed
with the power Of reproduction, and the
cells migrate and cOlOniZe and feed upon
the surrounding tissues. About three
years ago Senator Hill observed a little
fisSure on the right side of his tongue.
Aside from Slight pain and occasional in
cOnvenieuceS nothing was thought of it.
AS Il grew worse he consulted a phvsi-
clan, and was told that it would soon
heal Had Senator Hill removed the ex-
citing cause by removing the ever-pres-
ent cigar, 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 these
Omin5us words, "rOo iate.'' DR.. Gross
held consultation with some Of his col
leagues, and it was decided to remove as
much Of the diseased tongue as possible.
On the 22d Of July last DR.. Gross and
other surgeons were in waiting at the
Jefferson College hospital. When Sena-
tor Hi entered d smile PLAYED upon his
features, and he humOrOusly remarked
that taerc were a great many people in
this country who would like to see his
entire tongue eXtirpated. The ether was
now administered. 4 section of the left
side o, The tongue, about two inches long
and L&if an inch wide, was removed. The
bleeding was for few moments profpse.
but the arteries were caught and the Iiga-
lures cast around them and the red cur
Irent quickly ceased.
FOR weeks he lived on liauid food. and
jim Il remarkably short time he so far re-
covered that he was sent to Atlantic City
10 hasten the recuperatiOn, and after
ward he Joined his daughter in Wash
ingt0n. But the disease advanced with
such rapidity that SIX weeks after the
operation he was forced to return and
Undergo . second ordeal, greater than the
first. lie was now Respondent and had
little hope Of final restoration: but the
senator submitted, clearly understanding
that re could gain My temporary reIlef. |
Or. Gro>S nDW removed q large part Of |
The root Of the tongue and al the sublin- |
gual glands found to be involved. An |
nclsion was also carried down the neck !
Tor lew inches and several lvmphatic |
ylaDG5 were taken ont. This was a |
bloody operation, as the knife severed |
many blood vessels in its course. The |
wound on the neck was drawn together |
With silkeu stitches, and free drainage |
established. The senator recovered very |
slowly from this operation, and as soon |
IS he was able to travel he left for his |!
aoma N Atlanta, taking with him one of |
The reslden, physicians at the hospital. |
subsequently he went TO Eureka Springs
and spent month. Returning a third |
time, DR.. Gross introduced q drainage |
tube into the opening under the Jaw. On |
his tnrd visit he WAS much emaciated |
and showed signs Of the fast approach |
NC end. For more than a year everv |
movement OF the tongue in articulation, |
masCca'70n. and swallowing caused !
greatSutferlDg. At his death the cancer
had EXTENDED back TO the throat and had
destroyed the toDsil, palate and all the
soft tissues on the left side. The cancer
had eEcOriated the tissues surrounding
the caTt0id artery until it. was visinle to
the eye. Unable to swallow on account
Of the destruction Of the soft palate and
muscles Of deglutiti0n, the senator's
IOur-shment was for some time injected
into the stomach by means Of a
tube passed down the esophagus or Gull
let. The Introduction of this tube
caused 50 much pain that the senator
many lines refused the nourishment and
declared death preferable to the opera-
ton. Beef-tea and miik-punch consti-
tuteC LIS diet. The Immediate cause of
death was blood poisoning and exhaus-
ton.
IL NtS ~ A:Gu privilege 10 nave en-
i0yed H. IIill's friendship almost from
the day he entered congress until he
died. When he resolved to come North
in search of medical advice, met him
by appointment at the Continental hotel.
Noting that his countenance wore q
rather troubled expression | ventured to
remark that perhaps he was not feeling
well. His own words expressed his con-
dition better than any words of mine
can.
= ~ an in deep trouble" he said; ssI
have just come from New York. where
have te@n consulting with the eminent
I DR.. Wood. He tells me | have cancer of
1.-THE mouth" Then, after pause. as if
still having hope, "but after all he did
not make u thorough examination, and
said that the microscope was needed to
determ.Detne extent of the evil l have
= come 10 Philadelphia for that purpose -
''N len did you first notice the trou-
ble2-' l asked.
''About three years ago L discovered
an insignificant pimple on my tongue,
but not for year afterward did give il
any particular attention. consulted my
physicians st home. They thought moth
ing OF the matter, suggesting, however
= that ! should consult eminent medica
authority, and among others Dr. Gross
of this CITY While in New York that