The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-14
A SMOKERS PERIL.
DR.. Thomas Dunn English Under Terrible
Torture for Two Hours.

NEWARK n. J., March 13.-Dr Thomas Dunn
English, author, poet, lawyer. physician and
legislator, who is best known as the writer of
Ben Bolt, which appeared in the New York
Mirror in 1912, is now in his sixtysixth year,
and lives in unpretentious style at No. 494
Washington street. this city. About year
ago he began to be troubled by constant irrl'
tation Of he throat at a point below the root OF
the tongue. AS it was only annoying and did
not seem to be more than a local affection, he
did not pay much attention to it. After time,
however, the difficulty increased TO such an ex
tent as to interfere with his voice. which became
exceedingly husky and frequently could not be
raised above whisper. Dr. English has been
an inveterate user of tobacco since he was boy:
He both smoked and chewed 1t, ana
at night his sleep was not easy unless
a large roll of the weed was In MS
mouth. When the case of Gen. Grant was
brought prominently to public notice, with the
statement that the cancerous growth was caused
by smoking, DIR. English became alarmed, and
was convinced from the similarity OF symptoms
that he had similar affection caused by the use
of tobacco. During the last two months his
throat has been gradually closing up lie mas
suffered intensely from pain and been under con
slant mental strain from the danger OF suftoca-
ton. Ali this caused him to lose flesh rapidly
physical exhaustion. On March the symptoms
became SO aggravated that consultation was
held by a number of local physicians, ana Dr.
Holden. throat specialist, made minute ex-
animation that was attended with great olni-
Guilty. The base of the tongue, the tonsils and
larynx were intensely nfiamed, and after the
laryngoscope was got into proper position IN
the throat the little mirror reflected tunor or
papilloma attached to the right side OF the vocal
chords just above the true chord. 1t had grown
to such an extent as to hide the chords from
view, and at every inspiration portion OF
the tumor was drawn into the .windplpe
and prevented the proper amount Of air from
entering the lungs The patient was greatly de-
pressed in spirits, could not sleep, and had con-
slant sensation of suffocation. He believed that
he had malignant cancer, which added to his
mental depression DR.. Holden diagnosed the
case as papilloma which had not become malig-
nant. An operation was advised and DR.. En-
glish was put under preparatory treatment until
March TO- the time set for the removal OF the
tumor On Tuesday, DR.. English, knowing the
dangerous nature of the case and the chances
of fatal result calmly went through his papers
and manuscripts and directed what disposition
should be made of them. He was thus engaged
when DIR. Holden and his assistants, Drs. Smith,
Young and Southland, came to his houses DR..
English greeted them cordially, and, after
making his final testamentary arrangements,
sat up in his chair and said that he
was ready. His heart was so weak that it was
considered dangerous to administer ether, and
cocaine was distributed freely over the mucous
membranes in the mouth and throat. After
waiting until the an9sthetic had chance to
take effect, the mouth was opened, and was
found to be In normal condition. Repeated
applications of cocoaine were made without pro-
dueing the desired anRsthesia Finally the pa
tient said that it produced an irration worse
than the disease itself, and its use was aban
doned. A 2 per cent. solution OF cocoalne was
used, and its failure in this case is considered
mysterious by the attending physicians. 1t was
Than 6ad RI he
any further attempts to induce local insenslbilty
as the patient was becoming weak and irritable
One of the assistants seized the patients tongue
which had been placed between layers of tow
ell, and drew it out of the mouth as far as posi-
BILE. The operating surgeon then placed a
Larry ngoscope in his. throat, pressing it as far
back as possible, so that good view of the tumor
could be obtained. A pair of forceps specially
adapted to the conformation of the mouth and
larynx was then carefully introduced into
the mouth, care being shown not to touch
the tissue. The forceps had hardly got into
the laryux when the throat became the seat Of
violent spasmodic action which closed it entirely
and the muscles were contracted to such an ex-
tent that they held the forceps go that they
could neither be pushed in nor taken out. The
| patient was in the act of sufocating, his face
turned blush black, and he struggled violently
| to break the paroxysm. Just as the operating
surgeon seized knife and was about to split the
| trachea below the point of attack, the muscles
relaxed and the patient entered temporary
state Of collapse Precautions were taken be-
fore the operation began to guard
! spasms and tracheotomy tube had been pro-
| vided. An assistant was instructed, if the
spasms could not be controlled with a
certain number of seconds to hand a
to save the patients life, must, within a
minute, open the trachea, drop the hemmorhage
and insert the tube. The chances of saving the
patients life when this part of the operation be-
| eli, Ind f1o
| patient had recovered from the shock of the
| spasm, being told that the danger of the opera
| ton had greatly increased he told the surgeons
| to fire away, he would rather be suHocated in
a moment than pass another night like the last.
| Time and again the forceps were introduced in
| the throat and the operation was followed imme
diately by spasmodic contractions, and no prog
ress could be made toward getting at the tumor.
| The patients strength was fast going but his
courage never failed When the surgeon hest
| tated he mOtioned him to go ahead, and he
| would endeavor to control the spasm by force of
| will. He had great trouble to breathe, and had
| to Gght constantly to prevent suffocation. Once
! the forceps took hold of the tumor, but
| the throat closed and hid the tumor from view
and it was not deemed advisable to remove it
| then because of the danger of injuring surround
! ing tissues. Finally the patient made a super
human effort and as the forceps were inserted
| in the throat he controlled the return of the
| spasm long enough to enable the surgeon to get
one good view of the grip the forceps had taken,
and in second more the tumor was torn loose
from the flesh and taken out 1t measured an
inch in length by Ave eighths of an inch in
width, a remarkably large papapilloma. The
hemorrhage which followed was easily controlled,
and the patient was put to bed after suffering
the most horrible torture for two hours. DIR.
English speedily recovered from the shock is
doing remarkably we'll, breathes naturally, is
able to take nourishnent with little trouble, and
gives promise of a speedy recovery.