The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-11-15

An intimate friend of the late Sena-
tor Hill, of Georgia, writes to the Phil
adelphia Press as follows: 1t was nv
high privilege to have enjoyed Mr. Hills
friendship from the day he entered con
gress until hedied. When he resolved to
come north in search of medical advice.
L met him by appointment at the CONT
mental hotel. Noting that his counte-
| nance wore a rather troubled expression.
! ventured to remark that perhaps he
was not feeling well. His own words ex-
pressed his condition better than any
words of mine can:
Il am in deep trouble,'' he said II
have just come from New York, where
| have been consulting with the eminent
Or. Wood. He tells me | have cancer
OF the mouth" Then, after a 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.
when did you first notice the
trouble?n l asked
about three years ago l discovered
an insignificant pimple on my tongue,
but not for year afterward did | give
it any particular attention. / consulted
my physicians at home. They thought
nothing of the matter, suggesting, how
ever, that l should consult eminent
medical authority, and among others
DIR. Gross, of this city. While in New
York that year l consulted DIR. Bayard,
a skilled homeopathic. He called it an
ulcer, and began treatment for the
same, denying that l had anything like
cancer. | followed his treatment until
this year. Since the adjournment of
the senate it has given me considerable
trouble, and by the advice of my son-in-
law, DR.. Ridley, l have come north for
treatment, and intend consulting DIR.
Gross"
After some further conversation and
to my inquiry whether any of his family
was with him, he said: mo, and no
one is to know of this until after the
consultation, or if need be, until the
knife has done its work.
Senator Hill kept his appointment. /
awaited his return. A deeper shade
overspread his face as he entered the
apartment "A cancerr' said he. The
operation took place at the hospital at
o'clock.
DR.. Gross and DR.. w Fl. Paneoast
made the examination. After mo-
ment's consultation DIR. Gross said to
me: Senator, do you wish me to tell
you exactly what is the matter with
your
lido"
..Wen. sir. you have cancer of the
tongue
What is the remedy?''
There is only one"
''And that tsp"
''The knife
''Will a permanent cure be the re-
sult?''
That is problematical 1t may re-
turn and it may not
us there any danger of fatal results
from the operations"
ssThere is ALWAYS more or less danger
Erysipelas may set in; 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 one |
o'clock he replied. At that hour Sem |
ator Hill met Drs. Gross and Pancoast |
at the hospital and | accompanied him. |
DR. Gross, who was to perform the |
operation, was dressed in q dismal look |
ing robe of dark rubber, huttOned close |
to the neck. DR.. Pancoast stood at his |
side, and several young physicians were |
sn attendance.
Turning TO the doctors, he said
'1entlemen. this is a serious matter for /
me; 40 what YOU have to- do thorough |
", and leave nothing there that ought |
to come out.
| never saw such perfect composurc |
N man. lie took the chance of life |
with heroic courage. When he had fin !
ished his injunction to the surgeons, |
with the utmost GOODNESS he settled him |
self upon me operating table. a young |
physician BEGAN applying the chloro-
form it was no long task to bring the |
e-reaf powerful man under its influence. /
and it was several minutes before DR.. |
Gross began the operation. A section |
% lhe tongue and that portion of the |
floor of the mouth tainted by the cancer
were removed. The operation con-
sumed twenty-six minutes, and they /
must have been moments of intense ag-
Ony. 1t was some time before he re-
covered from the effects of the chic
reform. He could. not be Immediately |
removed, but as soon as possible was
placed in reclining-chair and carried |
TO an upper story of the hospital. where
he remained for some time. For two
nights and days / sat by his side, and
he was a brave and hopeful patient.
After the operation, his family were,
according to his instructions, apprised |
IF his condition.
When the senate met the winter af-
3er the operation Senator Hill had so
far recovered that he not only took his
seat, but was able to make 4 speech OF
considerable length without much diff
Guilty. Both he and all who knew him
I ! l. j II. Il ELL.