The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-08-13
GENERAL GRANTS DISEASE.

Extracts from am Article by DR. Silra.ly on
the Dead Hero's Case
NEW YORK, July 3l.-The subjo;nei ars
extracts from an article by Dr. Shrady, on
The Surgical and Pathological Aspect OF
Gen. Grants Case, which will appear in the
Medical Record of Saturday. rae treat
mene WI be more elaboratciy described
hereafter. DR.. Shrady says:
at Is not definitely known whea the
throat trouble commsncel, but probably in
june, 1884, as at that time Gen Grant first
complained Of soreness in the tonsillar
region On March 2, when first saw the
patient in consultation with Dis. Barker.
Douglas and Sands, it was found that the
surfaces of the right tonsillar region and
adjoining portion of tbs vault Of the phar-
ynx were covered with a thick, yellowish
exudation resembling sloughing tissue.
This deposit was evidently the result of
IN acute process, engrafted upon the origi-
nal disease. and partook of many of the
eheraceen Of q diphtheratic membrane.
Ans view OF the complication explains
many OF the grave symptoms which were
subsequently associated WITH great prostra-
taon, but which were not dirsctly traceabls
to the progress of the epitheliomatous de-
generation.
steady one from the beginning The loss
Of the palate aud adjacent soft parts, with
ohe consequent lack Of perfect control of the
tongue. occasioned great diiiicalty in swal-
lowing. Just before he was transferred to
Mount McGregor he rather suddenly lost his
voice, never to regain it.
ihis was due partly to thickening of the
vocal chords by the infammatory infiltra-
ton, and partly to q relaxation of the parts
from general weakness A brief summary
Of the treatment is all that will be necessary
70 give now.
'sEariy in the disease, in order to eliminate
every possible chance of error In diagnosis,
the patient was placed under specific treat
ment, although the clinical history of the
case gave only negative indications of its
necessity. This treatment, although con-
hnued for a sufficient period, produced no
effect IN healing the uicerations, or in ar
resting the progress of the disease. Iodoform
was used as local application to the
ulcers. as well as gargles composed of saIa
and water, diluted car bolic acid solutions OF
permanaganate Of potash and yeast A four
per cent. solution of cocaine was occasion
ally applied to the painful parts with happy
results, but it was never employed to any
such excess as is gener. ally believed by the
public, nor were thsre any bad effects mani
Tested from its administration. The latter
were carefully guarded against, with the
full knowledge that the drug was new one,
and that only its cautious use was admissa-
ble
"Rea clover was given quite constantly.
but produced no effect whatever upon the
local disease It only proved itself useful as
. ahxative, and was 30 employed as being
the least harmful OF medicines Of its sort
for.confinnous administration.
'The diagnosis given early in the case was
proved to be correct by the microscope, by
the clinical history bf the patient, and by the
fatal issue. The disease had much shorter
course than usual, owing to the prostration
OF the patients system dependent in a great
measure upon the causes. The cause of the
disease in this case is largely conjectural
Epithelioma, as rule, starts from local
irritation, and unlike other forms
Of cancer, is not dependent upon
hereditary rredisposition to the disease.
There must, however, aside from this, be
latent tendency toward cancerous troubles
which is more pronounced in some individu-
als than in others, otherwise we should be
unable to explain why simple and continued
Irritation would induce tho disease in one
case and not in another. 1t is, however,
quito probable that tbs irritation OF smok-
ing was the active cause of
the cancer In Gen. Grants case,
or at least It is fair to presume that he
would not have had the disease IL his habit
had not been carried to excess. This as
sumption is made in the face Of the fact that
Of thousands who smoke but a very small
proportion suffer from the disease.
Although there was more OF less con-
stant pain of gnawing character the pa
tient was happily spared that agony Of suf-
fering, which is of;eo associated with the
invasion Of the deeper parts of the tongue
by cancerous disease Had the latter oc-
CURED, it was proposed TO divide the sensi-
tive nerve OF the tongue guslatory)
through the mouth, which operation often
times gives absolute relief. Such pain as
existed, however. was kept under control by
cocooine and morphine, 60 that the last wish
Of the patient that his death should be
peaccftl one was fullV realizad