The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-03

in professional circles, at least that the uicera-
tlons of the tongue and fauces were dependent
upon malignant disease, q not uncommon occur
renee at his time of life, as the result of local
irritation from troublesome tooth. The focus
or the trouble on the side of the organ the usual
site of cancer, and the induration of the base
of the sore, were ominously confrmatory of such
a suspicion We gratified to learn from his
attending physician that all these signs of
epithelioma have passed away that the liberated
surfaces have healed, and the adjoining tissues
have regained their natural supplenass
Aside from the allimportant fact that the ex-
istence of cancer, thus ominousy confirmed by
characteristic symptoms, was feared last fall,
she above statement is misleading in that it inn
plies that the liberation Of the tongue, clearly
caused by troublesome tooth. and subsequently
readily healed by simple local treatment, was
identical with the characteristic cancer indura-
tion-sthe induration of the base of the sore
the fact being that the troublesome tooth, ulcer
alton of the tongue, and earache were confined
to the left side Of the head, while the indura-
tion, subsequent liberation Of the fauces, swell
ing of the glands aud other results Of the prog
ress of the cancer, are located the right side.
The statement that the adjoining tissues have
regained their natural suppleness' was contra
dicted two weeks later by the counter statement
that although the induration of the tongue has
existed more or less since last fall when the pa
tient was first seen by Dr. Douglas, the uicera-
tions have appeared quite recently Clearly
some one has blundered, either in his observa~
tion or in his descripticn-possibly both.
Unfortun ately for the professional gentlemen
in charge, these and similar contradictory state
ments have been widely circulated through the
public press; and in themselves are of such a
nature that the non-professional mind feels fully
competent to pass judgment upon them They
are, however of minor importance as compared
with the question: To what extent are General
Grants present condition and the apparently in
evitable result due to failure to promptly net
upon the warning symptoms first discovered last
fall! If it be true that the necessity for removal
-one recognized authority says without days
delay"-of a caEcerous growth Immediately upon
its discovery is an axiom in surgery, what de-
fense can be urged for those who discussed the
ominously confrmatory' symptoms for months
without an effort toward their abatementl
The plain English of General Grants case, so
far as now known from the statements of his
physicians is, that for months an epithelial cam
Ger has been burrowing into the root Of the
as to destroy considerable portion of the walls
of the back part of the mouth and involve the
neighboring glands; that-still taking these same
statements-the existence of the disease was
first discovered when its extent was limited to
mere hard place upon the side of the tongue at
tune and in stage when removal of a part of
the organ might have arrested further progress
that when concealment of the ultimate result
was no longer possible an attempt was still made
to conceal the dread character Of the disease
and to forestall criticism upon the treatment by
using an unfamiliar euphemism and by denying,
by implication at least, that the fatal malady
was cancer; and that, finally the silent, uncom-
planning sufferer has been thus subjected to the
horrible, protracted agony of one of the most
atrociouSy- y-painful diseases. from which death is
the only and merciful relief.