Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-12
TEARING A CANCEIt OUT.
The Operation Undergone by u New
York Farmer.
Fronl he NNo YORK Tribune.

from Ute " $40 AoFh 4fteottes
L. G. Fairchild, Westchester county
farmer, about three months ago noticed Il
small red swelling upon his upper lip and
classed it as a harmless pimple. 1t grew
steadily, however, and became exceed
ingly painful. A physician examined it,
diagnosed it as an ordinary boil, and,
after subiecting it to preliminary treat
ment, lanceG 1t. 1t discharged a yellow
ish pus and bled freely. For time the
wound appeared to heal and the virulent
indications subsidized. The relief was only
temporary, however, and after time the
Inflamed surface began to increase and
spread with alarming rapidity. In two
weeks IL had extended over the whole left
cheek and the entire muscle upon that
side Of the face was affected. The local
physician not being able to settle the ma
ture of the difficulty, and as 1t did not sue
cumb to the usual treatment of absor-
bents, the patient came to this city and
entered the Hahnemann Hospital. The
swelling in the cheek continued to in
crease IN size until the cheek was about
six inches thick. lt was hard to the
touch except at point under the left eye,
where it WIS soft and spongy. sharp,
shooting pains radiated from the seat
of the difficulty in the upper lip all over
the cheek, being especially violent under
the eye. The patients face wore an anX-
iOus, eXpectant look, and the cheek grad
ually assumed black appearance. In
several places small pieces Of bone could
be felt where the jaw had become affected
and had thrown off sharp splinters. After
a careful examination the disease was
diagnosed as a sarcoma, or caneerous
growth of n malignant type. Internal
treatment did not check the progress of
the cancer, and the patient consented 70
risk a surgical operation, though he was
told that the chancee were all against
him.
A week ago Mr.. FairchIld was taken 10
the operating-room of the hospital and
laid upon the table. Dr. William Tod
Helmuth, consulting surgeon Of the hos
pital, took charge of the case. A cone
containing ether was placed over the
patients nose, and in few moments II
loud snore indicated that the an@sthetic
was complete. The instruments were in
a large basin close by in an antlseptic
solution of bi-chloride of mercury and
caTbolic acid. With a small knife the
surgeon made an incisiOn in the trachea,
just above the chest. After the hem
OTThage had been checked, small trache-
0tOmy tube was inserted in the wtndpipe,
so that the patient could breathe through
IL MnAAb IUG UlAlH OitIdhiUu WIS UtAUk
performed. To reduce the chances of a
fatal termination 1t was necessary to pack
the upper portion of the windplpe through
the mouth, so as TO prevent blood flowing
into the lungs. After the tube had been
cleared OF mucus, and was under the con-
troll Of the respiratory organ, the patients
mouth was opened wide and small sponges
were placed under pressure in the back
part Of the throat until the passage into
the lungs was completely INSTRUCTED. An
incislon was then made through the upper
lip, along the left side OF the nose and I'M
der the eye, to the left ear. The skin upon
the left cheek was then dissected up from
the murculaT tissue, until large flap
was made, which, being turned back, ex-
posed the cancer0us growth. Ii was
found 30 have Involved all the bones In the
cheek and upper Jaw, and had altered
their nature to such an extent that they
could be bent under slight pressure. A
small saw was next employed and the
cheek bone near the nose, where 1t ap-
peared TO be sound and healthy, was sew
cred. The bone under the eye was SO soft
that II offered no resistance, and the whole
Jaw and muscular tissue were raised
The fungus growth was found TO have ex-
tended backward to the basiliOr process
Of the occipital bone, and the operation
assumed new complications. With the
aid of pair OF bone fOrceps all the rough
edges Of bone were carefully removed,
until every Visible portion appeared 10 be
healthy. The cancer was drawn out
from the cheek as far as possible and a
pair OF specially constructed forceps were
fastened TO it, as close 10 the base es pos
sible. A strong, steady pull was Then
applied to the fo-ceps and the cancer and
its roots were drawn out. leaving a
large section Of quivering flesh. Blood
spurted in every direction, and II
BECAME necessary to apply actual cautery
to the wounded parts. After much diff
Guilty the hemorrhage was controlled, and
the wound, after every part Of affected
tissue had been removed, was thoroughly
washed With an antiseptic solution. The
other flap was then returned 20 It's proper
position and stitched fast to the adjoining
parts. The operation lasted over three
hours, and Mr.. Faircbild was kept all the
time Under the influence Of ether. he re-
turned % consciousness slowly and suf-
fered greatly from shook. Il was feared
that he would not rally after the large
loss Of blood, and there were indications
OF a collapse. he finally improved. how
ever, so that the immediate danger Of
death was past. he has been growing
stronger daily since tho operation, aud n
IL now believed that lac viii recover. Tho
esFrFtud fc uIdIrr kaa1fpN aud hfa faFQ